The wheels are set in motion months before the big day. There must be plenty of time to make sure all the loose ends are securely tied up well in time. It all starts with a list of names and telephone numbers. The search for sponsors, for firms willing to donate something, from the drinks to flowers, the music to the crockery. Every little sign of solidarity helps and goes towards getting the best possible results.

“We have to press all the piano keys so that the melody comes out right in the end”, jokes Mari Cruz Robles, president of the Marbella branch of the Spanish Cancer Association (AECC). Hers is one of the names we are used to hearing once the summer months arrive in Marbella, along with those of Xandra Gamazo, president of the Triple A animal welfare association, and Princess Marie Louise of Prussia, at the helm of the Concordia Aids Association.

These three ladies are veterans when it comes to organising summer charity balls in Marbella, as year after year they strive to save the old tradition of the glamour soirée from extinction and bring a touch of luxury to summer evenings, complete with ball gowns and dinner jackets. “It’s important to keep up the glamour; we can’t lose it completely”, points out Princess Marie Louise of Prussia.

The concept of the grand charity ball is by no means exclusive to Marbella, but can be found anywhere famous for attracting the wealthy: Monaco, Los Angeles, Paris, etc. The idea behind all the glamour is to raise money for charities, some of which are funded almost exclusively by their annual event. “We can survive for nearly the whole year on the gala money” confesses the president of Concordia.

In fact the funds raised at these three charity galas in 2007 paid for six cancer detection and palliative care programmes as well as new vehicles for the AECC; the employment of specialists to work within the Aids association; and building work on new offices and new wiring for Triple A.

The main aim of the three organisers is to sell all their tickets, whether there are famous faces among the diners or not, although Xandra Gamazo admits that “the celebrity aspect is what the press and the sponsors are most interested in”. Tickets this year range between 200 and 280 euros, which includes a cocktail reception, dinner and show, and as yet there are no signs of fear of the economic crisis. “Expensive? Not at all, we give them a lot for their money”, says Gamazo. The majority of guests are old faithfuls who never miss a year. “In our case there are a lot of foreigners because they are more sympathetic towards our cause”, points out the president of the association for abandoned animals, whose gala took place last Friday on Gamazo’s own private estate, los Llanos del Almendro on the Istán road.

Meanwhile the Concordia gala is due to take place this Saturday July 26th at the Marbella Club Hotel and the cancer event will be on August 8th at Aloha Golf Club.

Of course these events would not be a success without the volunteers who, apart from helping with the organisation, are on hand to receive guests, show them to their seats and sell raffle tickets.