Stourbridge mother with rare disease hosting charity ball
Mother and wife Leanne Lillywhite-Sutton is hosting a ball to raise money to support people who have the incurable lung disease that she also suffers with.
The 34-year-old who has lymphangioleiomyomatosis, also known as LAM, teamed up with her former colleague John Thompson, to put together a Black and White Charity Ball to raise money for LAM Action which supports women suffering with the disease.
It destroys lung tissue and leads to severe breathing problems and it appears almost exclusively in women of childbearing age, leading health experts to believe it could be due to a hormonal connection but the exact cause is not known.
Leanne, originally from Aldridge, currently lives in Stourbridge with her husband James along with her two-year-old daughter, Isemay. She is one of around 250 women in the UK who are believed to have the rare disease and the only option to treat it is a lung transplant.
John and Leanne used to work together at InterContinental Hotels Group but remained friends, and John recently became secretary on the LAM Action Executive Committee, which Leanne chairs.
Around 200 people are set to attend the ball where there will be a live band The Spectrum and attractions including a photo booth and a Pick n Mix table, plus an auction and raffle.
She said: “I’m hoping that people who knew me from when I was growing up in Aldridge might attend the ball to give their support, and also friends and colleagues I’ve met since living in Stourbridge.
“We're excited to have organised what promises to be a fantastic evening and would like to thank everyone who has supported us with the event through both raffle and auction prize donations and their commitment to attend on the night.”
John, 43 from Brosgrove, said: “We have an amazing band lined up, a lovely meal with drinks planned for everyone and some brilliant raffle and auction prizes on offer.
“There are still tickets available and we would welcome anyone either known to us or not who would like to purchase any remaining tickets either as individuals or tables. We would also welcome any further raffle or auction prizes from local business.
The ball will take place Holiday Inn at Birmingham Airport on Saturday September 30 at the tickets can be purchased at lamaction.org/black-and-white-ball.
