F1 party raises £700,000 for Great Ormond Street Hospital

The Ecclestone family and Formula One's finest once again lent their support to the Great Ormond Street Hospital's charity party. This year's party broke all previous records and raised over £700,000 to build the hospital's new Heart and Lung Centre.

Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity F1™ Party was hosted by Bernie Ecclestone, Chief Executive Officer of The Formula One Group. It is the official charity of the 2008 Formula 1™ Santander British GrandPrix. Santander generously supported The F1™ Party for a second year running.

Pharrell Williams with band N*E*R*D rocked the packed ballroom during their hour-long private gig. An audience of over 500 guests werethere to support The F1™ Party in aid of Great Ormond Street Hospital Children'sCharity. The party was held atLondon's legendary Bloomsbury Ballroom lastnight, Wednesday 2 July to celebrate the official launch of the 2008 Formula 1™ Santander British Grand Prix.

Among the guests were Jenson Button, Mark Webber, Giancarlo Fisichella and many other F1 stars. The biggest absentee was Lewis Hamilton. He pulled out at the last minute due to a lip injury he sustained while kayaking last weekend. But even without the British F1 star, the evening was a big success, raising a lot of money for the Great Ormond Street Hospital.