IN PICTURES: Celebrities make it a night to remember at 31st Annual Race to Erase MS Gala

The event raised over $1.5m to benefit the Race to Erase MS and its Center Without Walls program.

PUBLISHED MAY 12, 2024

Ashley Benson and other stars lit up the 31st Annual Race To Erase MS Gala at Fairmont Century Plaza on May 10, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for Race to Erase MS)

Los Angeles, California (Release): On Friday, May 10, Multiple Sclerosis (MS) advocate and Center Without Walls founder Nancy Davis welcomed guests to the Fairmont Century Plaza for the 31st Annual Race to Erase MS Gala. The event raised over $1.5 million to benefit the Race to Erase MS and its Center Without Walls program, a collaboration of top MS research centers working together as a team on ground-breaking research with the goal of treating and, ultimately, finding a cure for MS. The star-studded event, hosted by Caroline Rhea, featured performances by Natasha Bedingfield and A Great Big World. Additionally, L'Agence kicked off the evening with a fashion show.

Natasha Bedingfield performs on stage during the 31st Annual Race To Erase MS Gala at Fairmont Century Plaza on May 10, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for Race to Erase MS)

(L-R) David Arquette and Casey Affleck attend the 31st Annual Race To Erase MS Gala at Fairmont Century Plaza on May 10, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for Race to Erase MS)

(Center L-R) Nancy Davis, Founder, Race to Erase MS, and Natasha Bedingfield perform on stage during the 31st Annual Race To Erase MS Gala at Fairmont Century Plaza on May 10, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Phillip Faraone/Getty Images for Race to Erase MS)

Nancy Davis wore a stunning sequin L'Agence dress and coat for the event, while other notable guests including Amanda Kloots, Kathy Hilton, Heather Dubrow, AnnaLynne McCord, and Bijou Phillips also donned various silhouettes from the popular contemporary brand. From Monday, April 29 through Sunday, May 12, L'Agence will donate 20 per cent of profits from sales from its Los Angeles store locations – Beverly Hills and Malibu – to the Race to Erase MS.

(L-R) Carmen Electra, Lisa Breckenridge, and Tia Carrere attend the 31st Annual Race To Erase MS Gala at Fairmont Century Plaza on May 10, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for Race to Erase MS)

(L-R) Kathy Hilton, Carol Bell, and Sutton Stracke attend the 31st Annual Race To Erase MS Gala at Fairmont Century Plaza on May 10, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for Race to Erase MS)

(L-R) Bijou Phillips and Dylan Mulvaney attend the 31st Annual Race To Erase MS Gala at Fairmont Century Plaza on May 10, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images for Race to Erase MS)

“We are honored to be the fashion sponsor for this year’s gala,” said L'Agence Founder and Chairman Jeff Rudes. “Nancy Davis’s story moved us to where we had to get immediately involved.”

Race to Erase MS founder Nancy Davis took the stage, thanking guests for being in the room to celebrate the 31st Annual Gala. Davis said, “Tonight, we are here to celebrate the fact that we are one giant leap forward in reaching our ultimate goal of crossing the finish line and finding a cure for MS.” Davis added, “Thank you to every hero in this room.”

Ashley Benson attends the 31st Annual Race To Erase MS Gala at Fairmont Century Plaza on May 10, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for Race to Erase MS)

(L-R) Radha Mitchell and Claire Jensz attend the 31st Annual Race To Erase MS Gala at Fairmont Century Plaza on May 10, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for Race to Erase MS)

(L-R) Brock Davies and Scheana Shay attend the 31st Annual Race To Erase MS Gala at Fairmont Century Plaza on May 10, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for Race to Erase MS)

Amanda Kloots introduced musical guest A Great Big World who brought down the house playing hits 'Say Something' and 'This Is the New Year'. Natasha Bedingfield then followed later in the evening with another show-stopping performance, introduced by Casey Affleck, featuring songs 'Love Like This', 'Pocketful of Sunshine', 'These Words', and 'Unwritten'.

Amanda Kloots attends the 31st Annual Race To Erase MS Gala at Fairmont Century Plaza on May 10, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for Race to Erase MS)

(L-R) Alberto Urso and Caroline Rhea attend the 31st Annual Race To Erase MS Gala at Fairmont Century Plaza on May 10, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for Race to Erase MS)

The event also hosted a live auction, which featured opportunities including a VIP dining experience for eight at Steak 48 in Beverly Hills; a pre-Oscar celebrity experience for a day; a four-night stay at the fabulous Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea with First Class airfare on Alaska Airlines; incredible tickets for Taylor Swift’s sold out The Eras Tour concert in Miami plus a three-night stay at Loews Miami Beach Hotel; a seven-night stay in an ultra-exclusive four-bedroom tranquility villa at Amanyara, Turks & Caicos; a two-day Parisian culinary adventure for two with Recipe TV Emmy-nominated chef Edward Delling-Williams and special guest chef Florian V. Hugo; and a luxurious flight for two on Aero Airlines with a three night’s stay at the Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal and more. The big item of the night was a four-night private yacht charter with a crew and a gourmet chef in Nassau, Bahamas, which went to the highest bidder for $50,000.

As in years past, an uplifting rendition of 'Lean On Me' was performed as the finale of the evening by Natasha Bedingfield. They invited audience members to join them onstage to close out the special evening.