Drag Race UK star helps HIV charity raise thousands at Drag Ball

RuPaul’s Drag Race UK star Cheddar Gorgeous has helped raise more than £46,000 for people living with HIV.

Gorgeous, who finished as runner-up in season four of Drag Race UK, hosted the tenth annual Drag Ball on 2 October which raised money for George House Trust, of which the drag icon is a patron.

In celebrating 40 years of the charity, more than 40 drag queens and performers, including George House Trust Community Ambassadors, Misty Chance and Anna Phylactic, took part in the Drag Ball.

The event saw the full camp and glamour of Manchester’s social scene congregate at the Diecast venue in central Manchester.

Among the highlights were a cinematic medley of songs from The Greatest Showman, complete with an aerial performance. An incredibly moving rendition of Cher’s “Believe” paid tribute to members of the community that have been lost.

In total a record-breaking £46,558.80 was raised with the money going to support people in Greater Manchester and beyond.

Darren Knight, the Chief Executive of George House Trust celebrated reaching “a remarkable milestone” with the charity’s 40th birthday.

“This year’s event didn’t just raise the bar, it shattered it, with an unforgettable showcase,” he then went on to say.

Knight continued, “Each artist gave their time freely, helping us raise vital funds that enable us to support to people living with HIV. Drag Ball 2025 was a radiant celebration of community, allyship, and collaboration.

“I’m deeply moved by the generosity of everyone involved and who attended and who stand with us in our vision for a world where HIV holds no one back.”

George House Trust was first established in 1985 as the Manchester AIDSline. Since then it has provided a variety of services to ensure people living with HIV can lead healthy lives.

Last year, more than 2,600 people were given advice, support and information, as well as thousands more being educated through advocacy and education initiatives. The charity also combats misinformation around HIV as well as stigma.

As per The Terrence Higgins Trust, 13,500 people are estimated to be living with HIV in the UK. 5,200 of those are undiagnosed cases.

In 2019, an independent HIV commission was launched to end new transmissions by 2030. There was then an interim target of an 80% reduction in new cases of HIV by 2025. This was based off the 2019 figure of 2,819 diagnoses.

Last November the UKHSA reported the 2025 goal was unlikely to be reached, but the 2030 goal was still possible. On Tuesday (7 October) the government published new data showing that in 2024 there were 3,043 new HIV diagnoses in the UK. That represents a 4% decrease from 3,169 diagnoses in 2023.

You can donate to the George House Trust here.