AN Olympic-themed charity ball at the Best Western Ufford Park Hotel, near Woodbridge, has raised more than �1,500 for the Suffolk SportsAid Foundation.

The evening, with a red, white and blue dress code, included a three-course dinner and dancing to live band Johnny & His Mates.

The Suffolk SportsAid Foundation helps to fund local athletes towards achieving their goal of representing Great Britain at the 2012 London games, and beyond. Among those at the event were Suffolk rower Joshua Tonnar and runner Helen Decker.

‘’The night was great fun and we were really pleased that Joshua Tonnar and Helen Decker were able to attend the event,” said Tarnia Robertson, marketing director at Ufford Park.

“We sponsor Joshua and CSD sponsors Helen, both of which are very committed athletes who hope to represent their country,”

She added: “We were so pleased we could raise such a good amount for such a worthwhile charity in one night. Thank you also to all the local companies who kindly donated prizes for both the raffle and auction.”

The Suffolk SportsAid Foundation was first launched in 2007, inspired by the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

In partnership with Sports Aid and Suffolk Sport the aim of the foundation is to raise money to support Suffolk’s talented up and coming sportsmen and women to achieve their goals. The foundation has already awarded more than 80 grants to young people from across the county.