In Pictures: DFNI Charity Ball 2008

Providing a fitting welcome for the travel-retail industry is a tall order, but it was managed ably on the night by 'Spotless' stilt walkers, whose banter and capers lent guests a fresh perspective

Guests for the evening flew in from exotic, far-flung destinations including Dublin, Geneva, Bahrain and Bridgend to raise money for an imaging system to allow faster and more accurate diagnosis of children's heart conditions.

While anticipation of the delights that awaited them built up, guests at The Patrón Spirits Co sponsored pre-dinner cocktail were treated to tequila cocktails or, in rare, hardier cases, an ice-cold tequila luge

One of DFNI's lovely assistants works out the best way to get the most out of Cat  Design's Richard Thorpe at the silent auction

Erik Juul-Mortensen (Maxxium GTR) and Jean-Michel Bostroem (L'Oréal Luxury Products International) examine the lots at the silent auction.

The Renaissance Chancery Court Hotel's ballroom was the venue for an elegant three-course meal interspersed with fundraising games, the DFNI Global Awards and a great presentationf from the evening's beneficiary.

Raoul Spanger (Gebr Heinemann) and DFNI editor Gavin Lipsith swap tips on neckwear as Spanger receives the award for Best New Shop Opening for ATÜ's new outlets at Istanbul Atatürk airport

Marcus Suaw (CAAS) receives the award for Airport Authority with the Most Supportive Approach to Travel-Retail from DFNI publisher Amanda Felix

Toastmaster David Spillane makes a strict judge as contestants in The Acrobat's Dilemma are asked to strike a pose

The Tin Can Alley remained a firm favourite throughout the evening

The main act, Crystalline, performs amazing feats of strength and agility for the assembled guests

When the action got too hot in the ballroom, Patrón's welcoming bar staff were on hand to cool people down at the Patrón ice bar.

The King and Queen Clowns battle it out in a game of musical chairs to win prizes for everyone on their table.

Caroline South (Caroline South Associates) celebrates winning the no-holds-barred musical chairs game, winning champagne, chocolates and assorted fashion accessories for all her lucky tablemates.

David Coleman, consultant paediatric heart surgeon from Our Lady's Children's Hospital in Ireland, gives a presentation on their work to save the lives of children with heart disease.

Auctioneer Hilary Lewis struck fear into the hearts of all guests with her Iron Lady approach to the art of the gavel.

One of Hilary's victims, Peter Jacobson (Diageo), shows off his auction win with table host Anne Kavanagh (Kavanagh Communications)

David Spillane closed the night with one last chance for guests to win some great prizes in the raffle, before clearing the dancefloor for an energetic dancing session that, as always, lasted longer into the night than expected.