The biggest and best party in the property industry calendar is back - and event organisers have planned a huge celebration to thank sector heroes of the Covid-19 pandemic.     

The Microscope Ball is a flagship event for Muscular Dystrophy UK, the charity for 70,000 people in the UK who live with muscle-wasting conditions. These diseases cause muscles to weaken and waste away over time. None of them has a cure and many rob people of their independence, cruelly cutting lives short.

This year's 37th Microscope Ball at London's Hilton Park Lane Hotel on 23 September 2021 will be themed around the idea that #NotAllHeroesWearCapes. It will celebrate and thank the property industry stars of the pandemic who gave - and continue to give - so much to MDUK.

Each year the Microscope Ball, attended by leading figures in the property industry, raises hundreds of thousands of pounds for MDUK. With this generous support, the property industry helps MDUK fund world-leading research into treatments for muscle-wasting conditions and vital support for families.

That all changed in 2020, however,  when the world shut down  because of the Covid-19 pandemic. As the pandemic hit MDUK's events and regional fund raising, there was an estimated drop in fund raising income of around £2.8m which is 44%.

But while the whole world was struggling as life locked down, the property industry stepped up. Industry members helped transform the Microscope Ball into a virtual party, raising more than £80,000 for MDUK. And property sector heroes also took on huge physical fundraising challenges including marathons, kayaking the Thames, cycling races and more.

Many supporters in the industry also generously donated the money they would have spent on their Microscope Ball table directly to MDUK. Without the industry's help to raise crucial funds, MDUK simply wouldn't have been able to survive the financial impact of Covid-19.

For example, LandSec - the UK's largest commercial property development and investment company - gave MDUK three weeks' worth of media space on the Piccadilly Lights for MDUK's #WalkWithCarmela campaign. Carmela Chillery-Watson is a little girl who lives with a progressive muscle-wasting condition that means her muscles weaken day by day. Last year she completed the gruelling equivalent of a marathon every day for a whole month while dressed as Wonder Woman to fundraise for MDUK.

So, with Property Week as media partners, MDUK has pulled out all the stops to say a massive thank you at this year's Microscope Ball. Guests can expect top-notch live entertainment on the night, which will be hosted by the infamous auctioneer Jonny Gould, with live auctions that promise more exciting prizes than have ever been up for grabs before.

Tables for up to 10 people can be bought at www.microscopeball.com and are available in bronze (£2,990), silver (£3,490) and gold (£4,990) packages. Those unable to attend but who would still like to donate can do so by visiting the website above.

Michelle Anthony, Chair of the Microscope Ball, said: "Cancelling last year's Ball was one of the hardest decisions I've ever had to make. It's easy to forget that the evening is so much more than an amazing night out - it's a funding lifeline for people with muscle-wasting conditions. "#NotAllHeroesWearCapes is the perfect theme to say thank you to the property industry, to MDUK, our incredible committee, key workers, volunteers, and Carmela Chillery-Watson - a very special little superhero. It's also a thank you to every company that's ever booked, danced and donated at the Microscope Ball to support MDUK. The party is always a special night but this year will be truly spectacular - we've a lot of time and money to make up for!"

Lorna Poultney, Special Events Manager at MDUK, said: "We're so excited the 37th Microscope Ball will go ahead this year and we're planning an incredible evening to thank the property industry for supporting MDUK through the Covid-19 pandemic. It was so incredible to see so many members of the property industry rally behind us last year and do what they could for the muscle-wasting community. As a charity, we feel so proud of this relationship. After a year off, we want to make the Ball bigger and better. Tickets are on sale now and the theme of #NotAllHeroesWearCapes is the perfect opportunity to dust off your dancing shoes and dress up for an important cause that needs your heroic support!"

Tickets for the Microscope Ball, at London's Hilton Park Lane Hotel on 23 September 2021, can be purchased here: www.microscopeball.com

The Microscope Ball committee would like to thank the following property heroes for supporting MDUK through 2020: 5plus Architects. Artemis Interiors, Ashill Land Limited, CBRE, Colliers, Derwent, Exigere, Faithdean plc, Hunters, JMW Solicitors, Knight Frank, Landsec, London Communications Agency, Levy Real Estate, Overbury, Oxygen Asset Management, Quantem Consulting, Redevco, Rougemont Property Consultants, The West End Office Agents Society, ThirdWay Interiors and Tuckerman.