Major London charity fundraising event carries huge ticket price

04/03/09

Despite plans to trim back the costs of one of the biggest events in London, ticket prices are to remain at up to £10,000 per seat.

Run by hedge fund chairman Arpad 'Arki' Busson, the Absolute Return for Kids annual ball will be held in June at the former Eurostar terminal in Waterloo Station, reports the Evening Standard.

The event generates money for city academies throughout London, as well as helping needy children in South Africa, India and eastern Europe.

Last year's fundraiser was hosted by Mr Busson and his fiance Uma Thurman with the 1,100 guests raising around £25.5 million.

People attending the ball included Liz Hurley, Tony Blair, Jemima Khan, David Furnish and Italian fashion designer Valentino, alongside some of the wealthiest people from the hedge fund industry.

While discussing this year's event, Mr Busson told the newspaper: 'We've got to take - a little bit - the glitz away. We're going to be saving money everywhere.'

However, the best tables will still cost £10,000 a ticket and Mr Busson claimed that there will be the same 'mind-bogglingly wow factor' for these guests.

A group of financial workers plan to generate around £500,000 with the fifth annual I'm a Banker - Get Me Out of Here in aid of a hospice in Essex.

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