evoke raises over £153,000 for the Motor Neurone Disease Association at second annual charity gala

evoke plc, one of the world’s leading betting and gaming companies with internationally renowned brands including William Hill, 888, and Mr. Green, is delighted to announce that it raised £153,907 for the Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Association, at its second annual Charity Gala.

Building on the success of last year’s inaugural event, this year’s gala once again surpassed expectations, raising more than last year and reinforcing evoke’s position as the highest-ever corporate fundraiser in the charity’s history. The fundraising milestone follows a year of activity including the joint Charity Race Day at Ripon Racecourse. On the night, evoke also confirmed a two-year extension of its partnership with the MND Association, setting a new combined fundraising target of over £1,000,000.

The black-tie event, held at the Royal Armories Museum in Leeds on Thursday 13 November, welcomed more than 500 guests for an evening of entertainment, dinner and fundraising activities. The gala was attended by employees from evoke’s global offices, partners and several celebrity guests and ambassadors of 888 and William Hill, including Sir AP McCoy, Barry Geraghty, Leonna Mayor, Sally Gunnell, Barrie McDermott and Billy Foster.

The funds raised will support the MND Association, a UK charity committed to improving access to care, funding research and campaigning on behalf of people living with MND. The partnership was established in 2024 following a colleague-led review of potential charity partners and selected because of its close connection with evoke colleague and regional operations manager Leisa Byers, who’s niece Tamara was diagnosed with the disease at just 26 years of age.

MND continues to have a significant impact on families and communities across the UK, including Leeds, where evoke is a major employer, and where the loss of former Leeds Rhino Rob Burrow last year brought renewed national awareness to the condition. Across the UK, more than 5,000 people are diagnosed with MND each year. 

Per Widerstrom, CEO of evoke, said: “Following the success of our first gala, it is great to see our partnership with the MND Association continue to grow. Extending our partnership for a further two years and setting a £1 million fundraising target marks an important next step in our commitment to supporting the life-changing research, care and support the MND Association provides. This year’s gala brought together colleagues, partners and ambassadors for another fantastic evening, and we are proud to have raised a record total for such an important cause.”

Tanya Curry, Chief Executive of the MND Association, said: “We are incredibly grateful to everyone at evoke for hosting such a wonderful evening and raising more than £150,000 to support people living with motor neurone disease, their families and carerEvery day in the UK six people are diagnosed with MND and their lives change forever. This money – and our partnership with evoke – really matters. It means we can be here for people with MND, to give them the support they need while funding vital research taking us closer to treatments and a cure.”