Ahead of tonight’s (15 November) BBC Children in Need Appeal Show on BBC One and iPlayer, Girls Aloud members, Nadine Coyle and Kimberley Walsh, visited the Children Eye Cancer Trust at the Royal London Hospital, to learn more about where the money raised by the charity goes, after Children in Need gave money to help with support costs.
Nadine and Kimberley paid a visit Childhood Eye Cancer Trust (CHECT) at the Royal London Hospital, which supports those whose lives are altered by retinoblastoma; an eye cancer which is typically diagnosed in babies and children aged under six.
Whilst at CHECT, Nadine and Kimberley met Robyn (1) and brothers Luka and Theo (7 and 5) who have undergone extensive and complicated treatment journeys following a diagnosis of bilateral retinoblastoma. CHECT supported both families before and after treatment and remains a constant in their lives.
Girls Aloud are releasing a brand-new version of ‘I’ll Stand By You’ today, Friday 15 November, with their beloved Sarah Harding featuring exclusively on lead vocals throughout. The vocals were discovered in the Girls Aloud vault while the band were pulling together archive material for their sell-out The Girls Aloud Show arena tour earlier this year.
Following the visit Nadine said: “We wanted to pay homage to Sarah and visit a cancer project ahead of BBC Children in Need’s 2024 Appeal Show and we were certainly inspired by it. It was amazing to see how donations from the public make an impact and hear how projects like the Childhood Eye Cancer Trust make a difference.”
Kimberley added: “I loved the project visit and joining in on play time and a little bit of arts and crafts with the children. Robyn really did enjoy turning the paper bed pan into a hat with me – it’s amazing what a little bit of creativity can do!
“It’s clear BBC Children in Need’s funding is not just supporting children like Robyn, Luka and Theo but also their families who have been through an incredibly difficult time. No one is prepared for their child to be diagnosed with cancer, and we learned today just how vital it is to have projects like the Childhood Eye Cancer Trust to support families when they need it most.
BBC Children in Need provide funding for two hospital-based support workers at CHECT to deliver a wide range of activities and support for children in both Birmingham and London. The project worker also provides support for the parents and families affected.
Lena, a Support Worker at CHECT who has played a significant role in Robyn, Luka and Theo’s recovery journeys said, “With the funding from BBC Children in Need, I’m able to support our affected children to help them become independent individuals who are happy, content and able to fulfil their maximum potential in life.”
Girls Aloud’s re-released single and their visit to CHECT will feature during the live three-hour entertainment extravaganza this evening which will see presenters Vernon Kay, Rochelle Humes, Ade Adepitan MBE, Mel Giedroyc, Chris Ramsay and Lenny Rush MBE present a jam-packed evening of sketches and performances.
Catch all the fundraising action, inspirational stories and live entertainment on the BBC Children in Need 2024 Appeal Show on Friday, 15 November on BBC One and iPlayer from 7pm.
BBC Children in Need believes that every child should have the chance to thrive and be the best they can be. For this to happen, we want every child to have someone they can turn to for help or support to overcome challenges they face.
We make sure there’s someone able to give food, clothes and beds to a child living without; someone qualified to talk a child who is anxious, isolated or grieving; someone trained to mentor teenagers in communities facing inequality, violence or lack of opportunity; someone to be there for children living with serious illness, disability or carrying a load that’s just too heavy to manage alone.
BBC Children in Need supports children in the communities where you live. We fund amazing people in family centres, community spaces, youth clubs and refuges; homeless shelters, hospices and helplines. In England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Only with your support can we continue to be there for hundreds of thousands of children when they need us most. Only with your support can we change their lives.
About the Childhood Eye Cancer Trust
The Childhood Eye Cancer Trust (CHECT) is a UK charity dedicated to helping people affected by retinoblastoma, a rare form of eye cancer. We:
- Provide support and information to families and individuals.
- Fund research into the prevention and treatment of retinoblastoma.
- Raise awareness among health professionals and the public.
- Influence policy to improve services for patients.
We know that when a child is diagnosed, it can be a distressing and frightening time for everyone, and we are here to help.
We also understand that for some people retinoblastoma can have a long term impact and we offer lifelong support for anyone affected – from diagnosis to adulthood. We’ve been helping families for more than 30 years but we don’t receive any money from the government and we rely on public support to fund our vital work.