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Susie

Team Smile takes on the London Marathon

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This weekend, nine incredible supporters will take on the iconic TCS London Marathon in aid of Spread a Smile.

The London Marathon is one of the world’s most popular marathons, covering 26.2 miles around the streets of our beautiful capital city, taking in London’s best landmarks including Buckingham Palace, The Cutty Sark, Tower Bridge and Canary Wharf.

We spoke to Team Smile marathon runner, Charlotte Weatherall – Director of Sales & Marketing at Corinthia London – about the race ahead, her training and motivations for taking on this amazing challenge and supporting Spread a Smile.

Charlotte: “I ran my first marathon in 2009 in New York with the only goal of getting over the finish line and with no intention of ever doing another one. Since then, I have run 10 marathons in total, including the Brighton Marathon earlier this month. The London Marathon will be my 11th which seems quite fitting seeing as it’s also Spread a Smile’s 11th birthday this month. 

“There is something special about running a marathon – the commitment to training, feeling fitter and heathier and then the magic of the day itself. It hurts and it’s as much a mental challenge as a physical one. But the sense of achievement when you finish is so special it encourages you back to try again.

“I started training for the London Marathon at the beginning of the year and have managed to stick to my plan on the whole. The longer runs of 16, 18 and 20 miles are hard – they take a long time and they hurt. With a young family to juggle alongside work and training there is no rest. The hardest part has been managing the long runs and then still showing up and being a parent, when all I want to do is lie on the sofa! Having my family behind me has kept me going and time is precious, so better use it for something meaningful. The sofa can wait for another day.

“I was introduced to Spread a Smile during the pandemic when the hotel I worked for at the time wanted to gift boxes of afternoon tea and vouchers to NHS hospitals as a thank you for their amazing work during Covid. A mutual friend introduced me to the charity and they helped us set up the initiative and we gifted boxes to NHS key workers. I was instantly impressed and inspired by the charity’s passion and energy and everyone I met and spoke to was so wonderful.

“Since I joined Corinthia London two years ago, I have been able to nominate Spread a Smile as the hotel’s partner charity. Now in the second year of partnership, I feel very proud to see colleagues getting behind the charity and supporting events and initiatives as well as fundraising.

“I organised a team of colleagues from Corinthia London to run the Royal Parks Half Marathon last October and we raised over £13,000, which was an incredibly proud moment. When the team at Spread a Smile mentioned they might be able to get a spot for me in the London Marathon, I jumped at the chance. There is no other marathon like it in the world!

“As a mother of two, there is not a day that goes by that I am not grateful for their health. Love for a child is like nothing I have experienced, and I find it an unbearable thought to imagine that being taken away. I have always empathised with what the children and families supported by Spread a Smile must go through whilst having nothing but respect and admiration for their positivity in the face of adversity.

“I believe Spread a Smile help at the most challenging moments for a family and if I can be a small part in helping that continue, then it is an absolute privilege to do so.

“To anyone thinking of taking on a challenge like the London Marathon for Spread a Smile, I say “do it!” You will never regret it once you cross the finish line and the sense of achievement and pride in yourself for making the commitment, training, raising money and then doing what you agreed to do on the day, is a feeling like no other.”

A huge thank you and GOOD LUCK from everyone at Spread a Smile to Charlotte and all of our amazing marathon runners for their commitment, efforts and support. You’ve got this!

Derwent Art event with Curtis Holder

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Our thanks go to Derwent Art for inviting some young people we support and their families to the Derwent Art Prize exhibition and a special workshop at the Oxo Tower last weekend.

The Derwent Art Prize rewards excellence and showcases the very best artworks made in pencil by artists from around the world. Our VIP guests were welcomed to the exhibition for an engaging workshop led by Derwent Artist Ambassador Curts Holder who showed our budding artists (young people, siblings and parents alike), how to use the grid frame method to replicate an outline as seen through a grid.

It was a lovely opportunity to learn a new skill and find distraction and enjoyment through art in a beautiful and inspiring setting. As one Mum said, “I just wanted to say a very big thank you. Freya loved today’s art session especially as she got to meet Curtis Holder, who is an artist they have been studying at school.” Our guests were generously gifted with a Derwent goody bag to take home after the event, containing art supplies to help everyone continue finding their creativity at home.

We are so grateful to our friends at Derwent for their support and making everyone feel so welcome.

To find out more about our family events and register for our services, please click here.

A special Easter tea party at Corinthia London

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Last week we celebrated Easter in style with a gorgeous Easter themed tea party, generously hosted by our friends at Corintha London.

16 families joined us for a wonderful few hours of Easter fun and treats, including glitter mocktails, a delicious afternoon tea and Easter biscuits which were delivered especially by the talented chefs at Corinthia London for everyone to decorate themselves.

Our family events provide a safe and happy space for families to relax and enjoy themselves together and this one was no exception with entertainment, magic and singing from Fairy Melissa, Rosie and her guitar and Paul the magician, face painting, balloon modelling and even a surprise visit from the Easter Bunny. There were also arts and crafts galore including crown making, easter themed decorations and bunny masks to create.

As one Mum said, “You really know how to put a smile on our faces and such happy moments are incredibly precious.” Nathalie, Mum to Emma.

“We are so proud to bring fun, joy and happiness through our family events and outings to families whose lives have been turned upside down by serious illness. To see the smiles in the room, the laughter and relaxation makes everything worthwhile. A huge thank you to the team at Corinthia London who really went the extra mile to help make everything so special and everyone feel so welcome.” Ellen Walker, Spread a Smile Head of Family Events

“It was our greatest pleasure to host “Spread a Smile” families including young VIP guests for a special afternoon tea at Corinthia London. Our chefs enjoyed making a procession in their tall hats to deliver biscuits ready for decorating. Our cocktail bartenders added special touches of glitter to the bespoke mocktails. Our Restaurant team enjoyed the many smiles as they placed sandwiches, cakes and scones especially designed for young palate’s and our Restaurant was filled with the joy of entertainers singing, making magic, crafting and face painting. Touching moments and making memories, a super time was had by all.” Clare James, Director of Human Resources, Corinthia London

To find out more about our family events and register for our services, please click here.

Meet our new team members

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It’s our aim to spread smiles to as many seriously ill children and their families as possible and we’re lucky to have an incredible team enabling us to do just that.

Two of the newest members to the Spread a Smile family are Gary Broadway who recently joined our Services team as Family Events Coordinator and Tasha Mann who is our new Community Fundraising Manager.

Here’s a little bit from Gary and Tasha to help you get to know them.

Gary: “I previously worked in the Play Team at Kingston Hospital, providing activities, entertainment, play opportunities and themed events for inpatients during their treatment. Whilst working there, we partnered with Spread a Smile and I instantly fell in love with what they were doing and their mission to provide entertainment for all seriously ill children.

“When the opportunity to join Spread a Smile as Family Events Coordinator came up, I jumped at the chance as I felt my experience of working in hospitals and trying to create magical moments for them aligned with Spread a Smile’s goals. I’ve already been to my first event and I’m very excited to meet all our amazing families, help put on more memorable events and help make more children and young people smile! It really is a special place to work.”

“I love to spend time with my family and friends, and I also love to travel, eat and explore nice places. Seeing other people happy is what makes me smile most!”

Tasha: “I have a background in community and events fundraising and am delighted to be part of the Spread a Smile team. I’ve recently come back from a 5-month trip travelling around South East Asia and Australia (which was incredible) and I’m ready to be back in the charity world and am really enjoying working closely with our wonderful supporters and fundraisers.

“Everyone at Spread a Smile has welcomed me with open arms. Just like the incredible work the charity does to help bring joy and laughter to children, the team reflect that with their compassion, kindness, and warmth. I couldn’t be more excited to join such an important and dynamic organisation.”

“Smiling can have such a hugely positive effect on everyone. For me, running, cooking and spending time with my friends always brings out a smile.”

A huge welcome to both Tasha and Gary and you can meet more of our amazing team here.

Spread a Smile attends RCPCH Conference

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The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) annual Conference brings together a diverse audience of professionals, experts, and stakeholders in the field of child health, including paediatricians, nursers, decision makers, youth workers and service users.

The RCPCH Conference serves as a hub for learning, networking, and advancing child health care, with thousands of delegates visiting the ICC, Birmingham and also online this year.

This year, Spread a Smile’s Director of Services Laura Walter was delighted to present a poster at this year’s conference under the ‘Mental Health Category’ titled ‘Spread a Smile Therapeutic Entertainment Programme: Improving well-being and supporting positive mental health in paediatric patients and their families’. The poster shared findings of our recent surveys carried out with parents/carers, health care professionals and children and young people, helping us to understand the benefits of Spread a Smile’s work.

Laura said, “It was a privilege to attend the RCPCH Conference this year and to have the opportunity to raise awareness about Spread a Smile. Platforms such as this are a brilliant way of sharing experiences and engaging with different audiences and colleagues, enabling us to share the positive impact of our work on children and young people during our hospital visits.

We hope to continue to build on the many positive relationships and conversations shared during this year’s Conference and area already looking forward to 2025.”

 

You can take a look at our research poster here.

A Time to Remember – Our Memorial Ceremony

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On Saturday, Spread a Smile held a very special memorial ceremony to remember children and young people that the charity have supported over the past 11 years.

We were joined by 13 families for a non-religious ceremony, led by Judge the Poet. During the ceremony Judge talked about how memories of a person can be represented by different stones, including smooth pebbles for everyday memories, rough stones for difficult and painful memories and gemstones for beautiful and happy memories. Families were able to choose their own gemstone to take home and were invited to write their memories onto a memory leaf to hang on a special memory tree along with the name of their loved one.

After the ceremony, there was time to connect over lunch, with gentle activities for our families and siblings, including aromatherapy from Priya, magic from Mr Magic, legacy arts and crafts, including sand jars and bracelets with Posey and poems from the wonderful Judge. It was a chance for everyone to remember, share and talk openly with others in a safe space.

As one mum said to us, “this event was the first time I’ve been able to think about a positive memory of my daughter since she passed away.”

Spread a Smile Co-Founders Josephine Segal and Vanessa Crocker were there on the day and the whole team was incredibly proud to share in this very special day.

We are extremely grateful to our amazing partners, Children with Cancer UK for their generous contribution which helped make this event possible and for supporting us on the day.

Also, to The Clarkson Foundation for kindly hosting us at their beautiful office in St Katherine’s Docks, providing the delicious lunch and making us feel so welcome.

Please do reach out if you would like to find out more about how we can support your family.

BIMS Ramadan Feast supports Spread a Smile

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BIMS, the aspirational burger brand that landed in London in 2018, has partnered with Spread a Smile, to help spread smiles to seriously ill children, and their families.

This Ramadan season, BIMS has pledged to donate 30% of profits from every Ramadan Feast sold, to support the crucial work that Spread a Smile offers the children and families it supports alongside Salam Charity.

Ramadan is a month of reflection, generosity, and compassion, and BIMS recognises the importance of giving back, particularly during this period. The money donated by BIM’S will go towards the entertainment that Spread a Smile provides, which includes regular in-hospital visits from magicians, fairies and therapy dogs as well as art workshops and treat drops at key moments throughout the year, including Easter and Christmas.

Spread a Smile entertainer visits enhance wellbeing. Since 2013, the charity has built a reputation for developing bespoke relationships with every family it supports. This year, Spread a Smile will deliver over 12,000 in-person bedside visits and 2,000 virtual visits, in partnership with 32 NHS hospitals and four hospice partners.

Karim Zigheche, Managing Director, BIMS said, “We are deeply committed to making a positive difference in the lives of others, particularly during Ramadan, a time of giving. Our partnership with Spread a Smile allows us to amplify our efforts and contribute meaningfully to the important work that they do, for families that desperately need a moment of joy, in our community.”

“This is the first time we have worked with BIMS and we hope it is the beginning of a long partnership” said Lucy Jackson, Chief Executive at Spread a Smile. She continued “Support like this, the commitment to donate a portion of profits, means so much and will directly impact our ongoing commitment to the children and families we work so hard to support.”

The Ramadan Feast is made up of an array of mouthwatering dishes including a selection of its best-selling burgers, fries, drinks and desserts including dates and walnut baklava. By indulging in a BIMS Ramadan Feast, customers not only treat themselves to a memorable dining experiences, they also a play a pivotal role in spreading smiles to seriously ill children in hospital.

To find out more and the location of the restaurant, visit the BIMS website.

Meet our viral sensation, Mr Magic

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Spread a Smile magician and viral sensation Mr Magic is hoping his newfound social media fame will continue to bring positivity and joy to those who need it and remind people just how powerful laughter and smiles can be.

Mr Magic’s clip of a cheeky magic wand that refused to be put away earned a rippling,  unfettered belly laugh of giggles from a child he met in hospital, and currently has more than four million views and over 380,000 likes on Instagram alone (@spreadasmileuk)! The film has also helped take Spread a Smile’s followers from just over 6,000 to 20,000 in two months.

Mr Magic, real name Ian Manly, says: “I’ve always thought how wonderful it would be to bottle a child’s amazing laugh, and now we’ve done it.

“I knew it was a great video as there is nothing better than a child laughing. Add in the fact that this child was quite unwell in a hospital, and it just makes it such a strong and emotional piece of film.

“It’s received comments from all around the world with so many people saying, ‘I’m keeping this and will play it every time I need cheering up’. It’s a very proud moment when you realise how much it has positively affected people’s lives.”

Ian began working for Spread a Smile 11 years ago, when Co-Founders Josephine Segal and Vanessa Crocker set up the charity.

He recalls: “It was very small then and the only hospital we visited was Great Ormond Street – and that was once a month.

“I was referred to Josephine and Vanessa by Vanessa’s sister, who had seen me do a magic show. Once I met Josephine and Vanessa I had no hesitation in joining Spread a Smile and have been there ever since, watching with great pride as their determination and hard work ensured it has grown into what it is today.”

“Magic has always fascinated children, who love tapping into their creative imaginations. People think it’s easy to do magic for children, but it’s not. There is so much more going on in a simple children’s magic trick than the actual trick itself. Everyone wants to ‘believe’ and the child has to follow the story and what is happening. The words you use are vital – and of course they need to be entertained continually throughout the trick. Plus, a good trick for one child may not even be a good trick for another child the same age. For me, entertainment is the most important factor.”

All of Spread a Smile’s entertainers bring their own talents, skills and expertise to help spread a little happiness to seriously ill children and young people in hospital and online at home.

Ian says: “The video is as close as anyone can possibly get to actually being in the same room to see the massive difference we make. It’s not unusual to create this laughter and it happens often. The wonderment and fun created by Spread a Smile’s singers, fairies, magicians, musicians, poets and therapy dogs shows on every visit. And not just for the children, but for the parents, grandparents, siblings and friends who are at the hospital and are all heavily involved in their journey too. It is our mission to ‘Spread a Smile’ to everyone and I hope the message taken from the film is that even in the darkest of times, there is always hope.”

The film has helped raise huge awareness about Spread a Smile and it’s work in NHS hospitals and hospices across the country, with the growth in audience meaning the charity can reach even more people who need their help. It is also clear from the 4,000+ comments on the film, that the film has been helpful to so many people, helping to spread smiles across the world.

“It’s wonderful to think that people around the world are playing the film over and over and it’s helping them through difficult times. Sometimes the simplest things can make the world of difference to someone.”

Now that really is what we call magic!

if you haven’t already seen the film, head over to @spreadasmileuk on Instagram, Facebook or X, or watch below.

To support our work spreading smiles, please donate here. 

New year family events

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It’s been a busy start to the year, with some incredible family events and outings for some of the children, young people and families we support.

We once again returned to Underground Cookery School in partnership with cancer support charity Teens Unite Fighting Cancer, inviting young people affected by serious illness to learn how to cook a delicious 2-course meal from scratch. As always, it was a fun day, filled with much laughter, providing a relaxed opportunity for the young people to learn new skills and then sit down together to enjoy the meal they had prepared. Outings such as these are hugely important for the young people we support as they provide respite and a chance to connect and share their experiences in a safe environment whilst simply being a teenager amongst other teenagers.

We also invited families to join us for visit to see Wicked at the Apollo Theatre in London – a wonderful experience and a lovely way for families to spend time together, allowing moments of escape in to the magical world of the theatre.

Last month our good friends at Mildreds Restaurants welcomed families for a delicious afternoon tea at their London restaurant. This monthly initiative is always such a joy, with Spread a Smile entertainers on hand to add to the fun. Often these afternoons enable children and young people going through treatment for serious illness to meet other families in similar situations. To see the smiles and relaxation makes everything we do worthwhile.

We know that everyone in a family is deeply affected by the illness of a child or sibling. Our outings, events and activities aim to support young patients, their parents, carers and siblings and bring moments of respite, joyful experiences and enduring memories at the most challenging of times.

Thank you to Underground Cookery School, Mildreds Restaurants, Apollo Theatre for helping to spread smiles and make all of our family events possible.

To find out more about our family events, please take a look here or register your interest.

Our unforgettable Sahara Desert trek

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Spread a Smile’s team of intrepid explorers have returned from an incredible 5-day trek across the Sahara Desert, raising over £25,000 to help spread even more smiles to seriously ill children and young people.

“An unforgettable week spent with an incredible group of people. The skies, the sand, the stars, the smelly camels, the blisters, the campfires, the emptiness, the quiet. We laughed ’til we cried. We cried ’til we laughed. Supporting each other to just put one foot in front of the other, never forgetting the reason we were all there: to raise money to help critically ill children and their families. It was an adventure of a lifetime. I’d do it again in a heartbeat and would recommend it to anyone.” Caroline Carey, Team Smile

Our trekkers covered 100km in total, taking in beautiful yet forbidding landscapes punctuated by peaks, gorges, dunes and oases, enjoying traditional Berber hospitality and sleeping under Africa’s star strewn skies.

Spread a Smile’s Director of Operations, Roxane Caplan joined the team on the trek, sharing her experience with us;

“On Saturday, I returned from an awe-inspiring week in the Sahara Desert for Spread a Smile. There, I was joined by Richard, Tim, Hugo, Rachel and Jon, Della, Simon, Amy and Caroline for an adventure we will never forget.

“Our journey together started at London Heathrow, flying via Casablanca to Ouarzazate in Morocco, our gateway to the Sahara Desert. The following morning, we were driven six hours further inland where we entered into the Jebel Saghro region and started our trek on the Maider El Kbir plateau late that afternoon.  We arrived at camp elated and were delighted to be greeted with fresh mint tea and biscuits. On day two, we rose early at 6.30am and ate breakfast as the sun came up over the sand dunes. We climbed up and over the dunes of Jebel El Mrakib and admired stunning views across the desert just before lunch. We’d been on our feet non-stop for four and a half hours, so enjoyed a well deserved break resting under a canopy out of the midday heat. After lunch, we walked through palm gorges and across the dry Rhris riverbed before camping that night in an oasis of tamarisk trees. 

“Our evenings were spent playing games and nursing blisters, before the sun set, and then we would eat together, devouring delicious food, which was prepared each night by Fatima, our wonderful chef. Some days we ate chicken, cous cous and vegetables, other days there was beef on offer. We always finished our meal with fruit and a glass of verbena tea as we gazed up at the incredible, starry skies. 

“Our final day was spent trekking along the Tikertouachene river which was empty of water at this time of year, and after lunch, a brutal sandstorm closed in on us, lasting for the rest of the day until about 8pm. It made us feel like we were walking in treacle and that night, our sleeping bags felt like they were lined with sand that had been blown in by the strong winds! It made us appreciate how lucky we had been on the previous days with the weather, which although hot during the day, was breezy and never unbearable. At night, it was chilly, but we’d come well prepared, so everyone was comfortable.

“Over the five days, we trekked 105km, passing through a beautiful array of landscapes and feeling a huge sense of comradery and achievement as we crossed the finish line. We were led by the brilliant Ibrahim and Omar, experienced Moroccan guides who were friendly and knowledgeable and who we trusted completely, and we kept our spirits high chatting to one another as we walked across the desert, with the sun beating down on us. Some days we were walking for up to six or seven hours, but it never felt too much, with the beautiful scenery and great conversation, time passed quite quickly. 

“We celebrated on the evening of our penultimate day, with a nice meal, where people shared their experiences. We all agreed what an epic adventure it had been with a brilliant group of people who are now firm friends.

“Thanks to the support of this incredible group of people, Spread a Smile will be able to help hundreds more seriously ill children and their families this year. We are so grateful to each and every one of them and it was an absolute privilege to walk alongside them on this incredible journey.”

If you’re interested in joining us for one of our upcoming events or challenges, please email Rimi for a chat or take a look at some of our suggested overseas events here.

Thank you to our event organisers, Charity Challenge for all their support.