Susie

For International Day of Friendship (30 July), we spoke to Jen, Mum to Bay and Uday, Dad to Aditi about how their daughters met in hospital and how Spread a Smile has helped to provide space for their friendship to flourish.

“Bay and Aditi met at Great Ormond Street Hospital when Bay was four years old and Aditi was six.” Jen shared. “Bay was already on dialysis, and Aditi had just started dialysis and their shared outlook of fun, incredible resilience and positivity gave them an instant connection and a special bond formed. 

“They’ve both had their fair share of hospital stays and live on opposite sides of London so most meet ups and play dates happened in hospital. These often became more comfort and support dates during their treatment. Bay would go and sing at Aditi’s door and Aditi would come to the chemo ward to join Bays singing concerts.

“During this time, Spread a Smile did what it does best and not only recognised this growing connection, but went out of their way to ensure the girls were invited to the same events at the same time – something that would’ve been difficult for us as parents to achieve on our own.  

“Spread a Smile gives us a space to come together – a carefree relaxed and inclusive environment that enables Bay and Aditi to feel confident and empowered to just be themselves and have fun together. And that’s a wonderful thing and something we will forever be grateful for.” 

Every year, Spread a Smile supports hundreds of seriously ill children like Bay and Aditi, providing opportunities to find fun and connection – with our entertainers and each other. Uday, Aditi’s Dad added “Aditi and Bay’s bond is more than that of two kids sharing a common journey. They see themselves as twins and can’t wait to catch up and chat – about taking their meds, their favourite foods, toys or Disney Princesses. They would look out for each other in hospital, brightening each other’s days, checking in on video calls and sharing little gifts.

“And then at every Spread a Smile party they can meet and catch up outside of hospital, having the best of times immersed together in bubbles, sing songs and activities. They get lost in their own little world.

“Spread a Smile has helped unite them at so many special events from afternoon teas, to art days and parties. Every time we see the sparkle in Aditi’s eyes as she looks forward to the reunions and fun moments with Bay.  

“During hospital times and beyond, Aditi and Bay have remained together thanks to Spread a Smile. They have found a friendship filled with so much joy and happiness. Our families have connected in a very special way – all thanks to Spread a Smile for bringing us together from East and West London to share a special bond filled with love, care and happiness.”

Spread a Smile relies completely on the generosity of donors, partners and sponsors to continue to provide it’s vital services. To find out how you or your company can help support our entertainer visits to children in hospital, family events and art initiatives, please click here.

The Spread a Smile Appeal 2026 is now live!

Running from 5-9 July, the appeal aims to raise thousands of pounds to help ensure we can deliver 23,000 smiles to seriously ill children this year. Over the past few weeks, Spread a Smile ‘Champions’ from across the country have been signing up to fundraising during the appeal week to help us reach our goal.

Every year, tens of thousands of seriously ill children spend months on hospital wards, cut off from the ordinary joys of childhood. No playdates. No school trips. No sense of normality.
Just clinical routines, uncertainty, and fear. 

Spread a Smile’s mission is to be there for as many of them as possible, bringing them entertainment, joy and happiness when it’s needed most. 

You can support the appeal by making a donation today.

£30 enables a fairy to sprinkle some fairy dust

£60 provides magical moments with a magician

£150 offers comfort and cuddles with our therapy dogs

Spread a Smile Appeal 2026 – Donate Now!

Every single donation brings us closer to our goal.

You can make something real happen for children facing the most difficult of times. Please donate today.

Earlier this month we were delighted to be invited to be part of the SoHPS Society of Health Play Specialists 3^rd annual conference.

Ellie Walker (Head of Family Events) and Jennie Walton (Head of Services), along with entertainers, Judge the Poet and Louise were there to share the amazing work Spread a Smile does working with Play teams across NHS hospitals.

The conference is a chance to network and engage with fellow play professionals, celebrate the amazing work of play specialists and hear inspiring stories from health practitioners.

Laura Walter, Spread a Smile Director of Services said: “Play is crucial for physical, social and emotional development and wellbeing and an essential part of childhood. At Spread a Smile, we aim to help bring the benefits of play to children and young people in hospital at a time when it might be more difficult to access and they are feeling most isolated and vulnerable.”

Judge the Poet and Louise showcased the work of Spread a Smile, entertaining delegates attending the conference and over lunch.

Thank you to the Society of Health Play Specialists and all those involved with organising the conference for making us so welcome. We’re looking forward to next year already.

A huge congratulations and thank you to our long-standing corporate partner, Masthaven, who have raised an incredible £15,100 for Spread a Smile by taking on the National Three Peaks Challenge.

A team of 14 colleagues, led by CEO and Spread a Smile Trustee Andrew Bloom, completed one of Britain’s toughest outdoor challenges, climbing Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon within 24 hours. Covering around 26 miles and ascending almost 3,000 metres, the team pushed themselves both physically and mentally to support seriously ill children and young people.

Masthaven has proudly supported Spread a Smile since 2019, and this challenge marks another incredible milestone in our partnership. The funds raised will help us continue delivering magical bedside visits from entertainers, musicians, magicians, artists, fairies and therapy dogs, creating moments of joy, laughter and connection for children and families in hospital.

Andrew Bloom said: “To complete the Three Peaks Challenge within 24 hours is a tough event, but also incredibly rewarding for myself and all 14 people in Team Masthaven. A real highlight was seeing how everyone rallied together when things got tough – there was always someone offering encouragement, a joke or a snack when it was needed most.

“Through every weather condition, the team kept each other going, and reaching the final summit together was a lovely moment. Knowing we were raising money for an incredible charity like Spread a Smile kept us motivated throughout. We’re hugely proud of what Team Masthaven has achieved together.”

A huge thank you to Andrew and everyone at Masthaven for their incredible commitment, determination and continued support. Together, they’re helping us spread smiles to even more seriously ill children and young people.

If your company would like to take on a fundraising challenge such as the National Three Peaks Challenge, we’d love to hear from you. Get in touch with our Partnerships Manager, Rosie Perkins, rosie@spreadasmile.org.

WillU Group CEO Jack Lane-Matthews takes on epic 52-mile challenge for Spread a Smile

One incredible supporter. Fifty two miles. Twelve hours. Countless smiles.

Spread a Smile is incredibly proud to have the support of Jack Lane-Matthews, Group CEO and Co-Owner at WillU Group, who is taking on an extraordinary fundraising challenge as part of our upcoming fundraising appeal from 5–9 July.

On 9 July, Jack will be running 52 miles – the equivalent of a double marathon-  in just 12 hours. Starting on the hour, every hour, he’ll head out to run approximately four miles before returning to the start line and doing it all over again.

It’s a huge physical and mental test, but for Jack, the motivation is simple.

“I’ve been lucky enough to see first-hand the incredible work Spread a Smile does and the happiness it brings to seriously ill children and their families. Every visit, every performance and every smile makes a real difference, and that’s what will keep me going when my legs start to hurt.

“This challenge is about pushing myself to help create moments of joy for children who are facing challenges far greater than any 52-mile run. If it inspires even one other person to take on their own fundraising challenge, that would be amazing.”

Jack is no stranger to endurance events. Last year he completed the London Marathon and Ironman Austria, spending months training for the challenges and covering more than 100 miles every week. Now he’s setting himself another ambitious goal in support of Spread a Smile.

We’re so grateful to have Jack as part of the Spread a Smile family and can’t wait to cheer him on every mile of the way.

It’s not too late to become an Appeal Champion.

Whether you’re planning a run, a cycle, a bake sale, a quiz night or something completely different, we’d love you to join us between 5 and 9 July and take on your own challenge to help spread smiles when they’re needed most.

Good luck, Jack – we’ll be with you every step of the 50 miles (in spirit!).

Abound is proudly supporting The Spread a Smile Appeal, with a programme of fundraising activities to help bring joy and laughter to seriously ill children and their families across the country.

The team kicked off their endeavours with a trek to Kjerag, Norway, on 27 June. Taking on one of Norway’s most spectacular hiking challenges, the Abound team covered 12km of steep granite trails and dramatic mountain scenery, testing their determination and teamwork while raising vital funds for the appeal.

Having proudly supported Spread a Smile for more than three years, Abound is aiming to make 2026 their biggest fundraising year yet, with 30 colleagues coming together to support the appeal through a range of activities and events.

Every pound raised will help Spread a Smile reach its goal of delivering 23,000 smiles this year through magical hospital visits from entertainers including magicians, musicians, artists, fairies and therapy dogs, bringing moments of joy, reducing anxiety and creating lasting memories for seriously ill children and their families when they need them most.

It’s still not too late to become an Appeal Champion.

Find out more and sign up today and help us continue to spread smiles.

Support ‘Team Abound’ here.