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We had a brilliant time at the Westfield to Westfield Walk on (9th September) where we joined circa 150 members of the URW UK’s finance team on their 13-mile walk between the two shopping centres. 

The walk was arranged to celebrate the easing of lockdown and to welcome everyone back from their summer holidays.

We are so grateful to them for selecting our charity and for helping us to spread smiles to seriously ill and hospitalised children. 

Thanks to Lola’s Cupcakes for sweetening the journey and providing some refreshments along the way.

About the challenge

• The event was on the 9th of September 2021. 
• One walk of circa 13 miles (half a marathon!) or three separate smaller walks.
• Teams of approximately six to eight people set off at staggered times between 9.30 am and finishing (they hope) by 5 pm.
• Points of interest along the route included two of Spread a Smile’s NHS partner hospitals, the Royal London Hospital and Evelina Children’s Hospital. As well as London landmarks the Olympic Stadium, Tower of London, Millenium Bridge, Big Ben, Buckingham and Kensington Palace and Hyde Park to name a few.

#WestfieldtoWestfield #WalkTogether #spreadasmileuk #spreadingsmiles #WestfieldLondon  #WestfieldStratfordCity

This September through to October our super supporters have really been pulling out all the stops at so many awesome challenges in aid of  Spread a Smile.

We were overwhelmingly inspired by our 30 fabulous runners who took part in the picturesque Royal Parks Half Marathon on Sunday 10 October raising a whooping amount of approximately £26k.

On Sunday 17 October an intrepid bunch of 10 from our corporate supporter Hain Daniels took part in the Cambridge Half Marathon.

The sun was shining when Charlie Hardcastle and Tracy Brown took part in the Great South Run on Sunday 17 October. They both said: “We’re running The Great South Run to raise money for Spread a Smile because they have done so much for Lily and her family.”

Not to forget those that took part in The Virgin Money London Marathon. You can read more about it on the link.

Images below of Royal Parks Half Marathon & Cambridge Half Marathon

We’re delighted to announce we are spreading smiles to children and teenagers under the care of our new NHS partner, Nottingham Children’s Hospital.

We run a weekly magic session with the patients there and patients also join in our regular sessions that we run for all of our NHS partner hospitals. Earlier in the summer we sent ice creams to the hospital for the children and teenagers to enjoy.

Jamie-Lee Phillipson, Play Specialist Team Lead, said, “Spread a Smile is an amazing charity, that constantly brings smiles to children’s faces. The work they have done to get all of their virtual sessions up and running has been incredible. It is such a great achievement seeing how they are still able to bring children of all ages so much joy through a screen. It has brought so much fun and laughter to the children and their families. The service they kindly provide for us is invaluable. Thank you for all the amazing work you do.”

Last week, the Play Team ran a Caribbean Party for the patients at the hospital. Spread a Smile entertained at the party with a virtual art session. We’ve loved seeing the amazing pineapple creations that the children made.

This August our amazing supporters have really been pulling out all the stops in aid of  Spread a Smile.

Marc Lester, Garry Crystal and Oliver Bradley literally threw themselves out of a plane in a sponsored skydive; Angel, Rob and Holly Farley, completed a 16-mile sponsored walk and Henry Jackson, Lily Ornstein and their families (including our CEO Lucy Jackson) completed two mountain hikes in the Lake District (280,000 steps, 20km and 824m) as part of the Bnei Mitzvah Charity Challenge.

In addition, 10-year-olds Pearl and Izzy from Barnes set up a stall selling lavender bags to friends and neighbours after being inspired to raise money for Spread a Smile following a charity article in The Week Junior.

Our Enriching Spaces programme continues to brighten the hospital environment and make communal spaces, treatment rooms and wards more inviting places to be.

Marina, our creative Head of Art, recently visited Great Ormond Street Hospital to spread smiles with her stunning wall and window artworks.

Marina said, “It’s lovely working with the children in the design process, feel the mounting excitement as I work and see the smiles of children, parents and staff with the finished artworks.” 

We were thrilled to hear about 10 year old friends, Pearl and Izzy, who, after reading about Spread a Smile in The Week Junior magazine, were inspired to fundraise for the charity.

Their school, Barnes Primary, runs a Citizenship Award to encourage pupils to look after themselves, their school and their community with a positive mindset. As part of the Award they needed to raise money for charity.

The girls decided to make and sell lavender bags and with the help of Pearl’s mum and Izzy’s grandma they sewed the bags together. They sold the bags door to door and also set up a stall.

Izzy and Pearl raised a fabulous £125. They said, “…we had so much fun and we learn to use a sewing machine. We hopefully think we made a difference in a lot of people’s lives. In the process of this we got to express our creativity which produced unique lavender bags. We are so happy we did this.”

The holidays are always a difficult time for critically ill children and never more so than during a pandemic when isolating in hospital or at home becomes a necessity. We have been there throughout the summer with a host of interactive virtual activity days to amuse and delight.  More than 200 children have attended activities including a meet and greet with Spiderman and Princess Elsa, Olympic art and anime workshops, a Mamma Mia musical theatre session, TikTok dancing with the Gregorian Sisters and, this week, a Back to School virtual challenge.

One mum messaged us to say, “Just a quick message to say thank you sooo much for yesterday. Zac loved meeting Spiderman. He is still talking about it now.”

We’ve had so much fun doing it and it’s been wonderful to spread so many smiles during the holidays. We are now working on plans for half term including Halloween and Christmas.

Our partner, Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice, hosted their family day, Noah’s Fest, earlier this month. We were delighted to attend to entertain the children under their care as well as their families.

Our fairies, magicians and artists supported the many family activities available on the day with singing, magic tricks and art activities. A member of the hospice team commented as a Spread a Smile fairy sang ‘Never Enough’ with two little girls, “The immediate audience had tears in their eyes. She really made the day special for several children and helped create a lovely atmosphere.”

It’s wonderful to receive such positive feedback and to see the children’s smiles. We are delighted to work with our partner hospitals and hospices to enhance their events and spread more smiles.

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Dame Maureen Lipman and Heidi Nathan appeared on Good Morning Britain on Friday 30 July to talk about their friendship, early morning walks throughout lockdown and the many savoury and sweet recipes that inspired their cookbook, This Book is Toast.

To purchase the cookbook please click HERE.  All author proceeds from sales will go to Spread a Smile.

Dame Maureen Lipman DBE is a theatre, film, radio and television actor, writer and comedian. She was made a Dame in the 2020 Queen’s Birthday Honours for services to charity, entertainment and the arts.  Heidi Nathan is Spread a Smile’s Trust and Foundation’s Manager.