The fashion, acting, music and sports world’s joined forces for charity last night at Lewis Hamilton’s Reimagining The Future gala dinner, raising funds for his Mission 44 foundation. Fashion stars including designers Kim Jones, Bianca Saunders and Tolu Coker were joined by Lily Allen, Tems, Idris and Sabrina Elba, and an array of British athletes.
Hosted by F1 presenter Ariana Bravo, guests at the inaugural fundraising event for the charity tucked into veggie and vegan dinner and desserts, and enjoyed music from British soul and R&B singer Pip Millett, vocal ensemble Flames Collective and a youth performance from rapper Origin, from the East London Arts and Music School. Celebrities and guests also bid in an auction of unique items including a VIP experience at a 2025 Grand Prix and a full-size replica helmet signed by Hamilton.
Shane Anthony Sinclair
“I think it’s going to be a really powerful evening,” Hamilton told British Vogue ahead of the event to raise funds for the charity that has already invested £5.5 million in helping young people around the world. “It’s one of the few opportunities we get to bring everyone together and celebrate what we’ve achieved over the past three years. It’s also our first ever fundraising event and I’m so excited about the positive impact that will come out of tonight.”
Mission 44 was launched in response to the The Hamilton Commission – a research report funded by the driver after the Black Lives Matter movement in 2020. The role of the report was to better understand the lack of Black representation in UK motorsport which, ultimately, inspired Hamilton to create Mission 44. “The Hamilton Commission found barriers all through the education and employment pathways. It was really important to me not just to identify problems but also do something about them,” says Hamilton. “Mission 44 is tackling those barriers through grant giving and working with partners that empower young people to succeed. But it’s not just about changing motorsport, our goal is to build a fairer and more inclusive future for young people around the world, to give them the opportunity to thrive, no matter what their dreams are.”