The black tie gala event, set up in 2006 by patissier and chocolatier Will Torrent, runs every two years and aims to raise money for charity and entertain guests with great food and music. In 2006 and 2008, it raised money for Thames Hospice Care. This year it was organised by Torrent and the Trust's volunteer worker Francesca Bifolco to raise funds for children in the black townships of South Africa. Last summer Bifolco travelled to Port Elizabeth with the Trust to help teach children, build playing fields and fix water problems and saw the poverty and segregation that still exists in South Africa. She said: "It was one of the most overwhelming experiences of my life. "When we built the playing field, the head teacher of the school told us we had not just built a playing field; we had built a stadium for kids to shine, discover fun and laughter, and develop as amazing citizens." She said this was why she approached Torrent to find an innovative way to raise funds and Strictly Come Dining 2010 was the answer. Calabash Trust was established in 1998 by South African Paul Miedema and is now working with at least 15 schools providing food, resources, training and enterprise opportunities for those it believes can benefit. Duncan Hewson, co founder of the UK Trust, said the funds raised from the event would be transferred to Calabash Trust South Africa where they will be used to fund the ongoing Lavela Project in the black township of Ramaphosa, Port Elizabeth, South Africa. This would ensure that at least for next year the daily pre-school education and feeding programme for more than 60 children continued. The fundraiser saw more than 100 guests enjoy a champagne reception and canapés created by Futurechef 2009 winner Luke Thomas. The Great British Menu style dinner consisted of Thomas' amuse bouche of cauliflower velouté with truffle foam and golden raisin, followed by a starter of Lincolnshire poacher with sweetcorn custard, salad and walnut toast created by The Pinewood Hotel's head chef Phil Currie. Celebrity chef Brian Turner then presented his main course of stuffed saddle of English lamb, butter braised cabbage, fondant potatoes and parsley and mint gravy. Afterwards Turner helped present the amazing prizes up for grabs that included a morning in the kitchens of The Waterside Inn plus lunch, signed Chelsea and Arsenal Football club shirts, signed celebrity chef books, Robert Welch signature chef knives, comedy club tickets, racing days and beauty days to name just a few. Dessert prepared by Torrent and Alistair Birt, WorldSkills Calgary 2009 Medallion of Excellence winner and chocolatier at William Curley, consisted of a chocolate and raspberry celebration. This was followed by entertainment that included three top UK jazz musicians – Simon Colam, Dave Olney and Harold Fisher, plus Torrent ditching his chef whites and donning his tuxedo to entertain guests with songs inspired by Sinatra, Bublé, Cullum and Cole. Torrent said: "The event was a huge success and what was more important was that we doubled what we were aiming for financially and now know we have gone a long way in helping sustain the feeding programme for nearly all of 2011."