Comedy legends Cannon and Ball will throw their support behind Manchester charity The Message Trust next week (Fri 19 Nov) when they take part in a Gala Dinner to raise funds for young people.

The duo will bring their trademark knockabout comedy and tell stories from over thirty years in show business. They rose from obscurity performing in clubs in Oldham to become one of the most famous TV comedy acts of the 1980s.

The Gala Dinner, which takes place at the five-star Lowry Hotel on Friday 19 November, will showcase the work of The Message and will feature first-person testimonies from young people who have been helped by the charity and an address from Founder and CEO, Andy Hawthorne.

An auction of fantastic money-can’t-buy items will top off the evening. Exclusive lots already donated include a behind-the-scenes day with Greater Manchester Police, a Caterham track day and an opportunity to professionally record your own EP.

Tickets for the Gala Dinner cost £60 and include a five-star, three-course meal. Tables of 10 places can also be reserved at a cost of £600.

For more information, please contact Tess Hartley at The Message Trust via tess.hartley@message.org.uk or 0161 946 2304.

And the news is in!

Thanks to the overwhelming generosity of our guests at the 2009 Urban Hero Awards on Friday 3 July, we are delighted to say that including all donations and pledges, we raised a magnificent £94,000.

Update: Thanks to a few post-event gifts, the total now tops £100,000.

We’re so grateful to everyone who contributed on the night. Thank you!

It’s not too late to help raise up more Urban Heroes.

Check out our Best of Manchester Auction running all this week with six extraordinary money-can’t-buy prizes.

Or click here to give a gift online now.