X Factor and Dancing on Ice star Ray Quinn will be making a special charity appearance in Chester this Christmas as the headline act at the 2014 Cheshire Christmas Ball.

The event is being organised by Chester residents Kevin Tasker and Eleanor Hunt as part of a drive to raise thousands of pounds for the charity Kick4Life, which uses the power of football to deliver life-changing work in the small Southern African nation of Lesotho, which has the world’s 2nd highest rate of HIV / AIDS, with nearly 25% of the adult population being HIV positive.

Ray Quinn shot to fame in 2006 as a contestant on TV’s X Factor, dazzling audiences with swing classics at the tender age of 17, eventually finishing as runner-up to Leona Lewis.

He then continued on to have a Platinum selling album ‘Doing It My Way’ selling more than 350,000 copies and hitting number #1 in the UK charts.

This was followed by a sell-out UK solo tour. He then went on to win the 2009 series of Dancing on Ice and in 2014 was crowned Champion of Champions in the final of the very last Dancing on Ice series.

He has also recently released a new EP on iTunes titled ‘Old Soul, Young Blood’ and starts a new UK tour this month.

The Kick4Life charity, which has had some high-profile support in the past from David Beckham and Prince Harry, delivers health education and HIV testing programmes for young people, support for vulnerable women and mentoring to improve education and employment opportunities.

Eleanor Hunt and Kevin Tasker are organising the 2014 Cheshire Christmas Ball for the charity Kick4Life

Event organiser, Kevin Tasker said “We’re delighted that Ray has agreed to appear at the event, which we hope will be a highlight of the festive season in Cheshire.

“Ray is a cousin of mine so he is doing us a really big favour by appearing free of charge to help us raise as much money as possible for this wonderful charity.

“As well as Ray headlining the evening, guests will also receive a three-course Christmas meal, with additional entertainment including a Burlesque Dance Show, Freestyle Football performance and Opera singer, with DJ and dancing to follow.

“We are particularly appealing to local businesses and organisations to consider the event as part of their staff Christmas celebrations and as this is also a formal dress event, it gives people an opportunity to throw on their best suit and cocktail dress, let their hair down and help a fantastic cause in the process.”

The event will be held on Thursday, December 11 at the Cheshire View Banquetting Suites, Christleton, with individual tickets priced at £40.

For more information and to book tickets, visit www.cheshirechristmasball.com or call 07928 517239.

For more information on Kick4Life, please visit www.kick4life.org