Nashville comes to Newcastle: EMG Solicitors’ WonderLAN Ball raises £45,000 for Headway UK

This year was extra special as it marked a decade of the firm’s charity partnership with Headway - the brain injury association. That’s 10 years important funds have been raised to support those affected by brain injury.

This year’s WonderLAN Ball, held at Utilita Arena in Newcastle, featured rhinestones, rodeo outfits, and country line dancing as 550 guests settled in for A Night in Nashville.

Guests strutted their stuff in their cowboy boots as they toe-tapped along to live music from One Night in Nashville, watched in amazement at fire performers and even tried out how they’d fare working on a ranch as they rode a mechanical bull!

There was also fundraising games including a silent auction and raffle, with the evening hosted by BBC Radio Newcastle’s breakfast presenter, Matt Bailey.

The money raised at the annual ball goes directly to support Look Ahead in the North (LAN), a residential weekend for members of Headway groups and branches in the North East and Cumbria.

This year’s WonderLAN Ball- A Night in Nashville raised an incredible £45,000, ensuring over 100 brain injury survivors, their loved ones, carers and volunteers can enjoy a weekend of activities and workshops at the Calvert Trust as part of LAN.

Activities include high ropes, archery, music therapy sessions, and live entertainment in the evenings.

Emma Gaudern, CEO of EMG Solicitors, said: “We established the WonderLAN Ball as a way for us to give back to the community of brain injury survivors we are so proud to represent through our Court of Protection work.

“Finding a supportive and collaborative partner in Headway has been essential to the event’s success and we’re very proud to be celebrating ten years of our partnership.

“I’d like to thank each and every person that joined us at this year’s WonderLAN Ball for being so generous. And to all our wonderful sponsors, Frenkel Topping, Active Care Group Case Management, Active Neuro, BM Brooks Adroit, Conçerva, Design for Independence, Handelsbanken, PLG Consultants, Utilita Arena Newcastle and Winn Solicitors, who we couldn’t run the event without.”

Jemma Morland, Director and Head of Court of Protection Property & Affairs at EMG Solicitors, added: “It's incredibly rewarding to know that all the money we’ve raised for Headway goes towards putting on an incredible event where people get to have fun, build their confidence and enhance their lives.

“All of us at EMG Solicitors feel passionately about everything the charity has achieved and continues to achieve."

Luke Griggs, CEO at Headway UK, said: “The WonderLAN Ball brings together so many people who passionately care about improving life after brain injury.

“And it simply would not be possible without the efforts of Emma and Jemma, their team and all those who contribute to the amazing WonderLAN Ball each year.”