Our events

Summer Party 2025: What an amazing day

 780 400 Susie
By:

On Thursday 24 July, Spread a Smile once again hosted our wonderful Summer Party, this year sponsored by our friends from BC Partners and held at Coram’s Fields in London.

It was an incredible day, filled with fun, joy and laughter and we welcomed 751 children, young people and family members supported by Spread a Smile, along and colleagues from our NHS hospital partners for a day full of exciting activities, performances and treats. To ensure that our VIP guests felt as comfortable and as special as possible, the day consisted of a morning and an afternoon party, enabling us to share the fun with even more of the families we support.

“I just wanted to say a huge thank you for all the effort and hard work that obviously went in to arranging the Summer Party today. We had an absolutely wonderful time and are incredibly grateful to have been able to join you. There were such fantastic activities to get stuck into. Thank you for all that you do and for finding such brilliant ways to spread a smile!” Tasha and Darcey

The Spread a Smile team once again went all out to put on our best party yet, with over 150 brilliant volunteers giving up their time to help run a range of different stalls and activities including arts and crafts, face painting, glitter tattoos, a sensory area, mini golf, animal petting with Anna’s Animals, and a pop-up arcade. Our friends at the LEGO Group brought plenty of LEGO for the children to make their own creations, and Hasbro also brought their team and an interactive games and Play-Doh station. Guests also enjoyed making their own gorgeous flower crowns with Freddie’s Flowers, and there were plenty of delicious treats on the go from our friends from Pan-n-Ice, Mildreds, Lola’s Cupcakes and the Wandering Pizza Company.

As always, Spread a Smile’s incredible team of entertainers filled the day with music, singing, dancing, bubbles, magic, poetry and so much more. Our therapy dogs Harry and Thomas, along with owners Tara and Olivia, were also there to join in the fun, meeting lots of new and familiar friends, including Mickey and Minne Mouse, Stitch, Spiderman, Elsa, Mummy Pig and the new baby Evie.

“Thank you for hosting the most incredible Summer Party. We’ve left with our hearts full and bubba has the biggest smile on her face. She was so excited to share her day with her grandparents when we got home. I haven’t seen her this excited in a while. You guys are real life superheroes!” Mum, Kheelna

We are extremely proud to be able to deliver such special days out for seriously ill children and their families to enjoy. The Summer Party is always full of so much happiness and joy, and a wonderful opportunity for our guests to relax and unwind and enjoy seeing their children have a fantastic and stress-free day out.

“Thank you, Spread a Smile for a wonderful morning. You are all truly incredible! We feel so lucky to be supported by you and for the smiles you are forever giving Polly.” Mum, Lauren

We are extremely grateful to all our wonderful volunteers for giving up their time to make the day possible. A special thanks to our friends from BC Partners for sponsoring the event and Children with Cancer UK for their ongoing support. Also, to the brilliant companies and supporters who donated supplies, gifts, food and drink to help us provide the best experience possible: Child’s Farm, Coconut Lane, Derwent Art, Goppus, Hasbro, Keel Toys, Kidjo, Putt Party, Super Sparrow, Swizzels and YETI.

“I just wanted to say thank you for having us as volunteers at today’s party, I thought both went amazingly and not even the rain could have dampened the vibes and how much the families were enjoying themselves, it was truly such a joy to have been able to soak it all up. You guys make such positive impact and every family I spoke to were hugely complimentary about the work spread a smile do.”

Thank you as always to the Spread a Smile team and all our amazing families for joining us and making our Summer Party 2025 a triumph – we can’t wait for the next one.

To help ensure we can continue to spread smiles to seriously ill children and young people, please donate here. Thank you.

 

 

Watch our Spread a Smile Summer Party 2025 film here…

Comedy Night with Suzi Ruffell

Comedy Night with Suzi Ruffell

 1024 1024 Susie
By:

We are delighted to announce that on Monday 19th December, our Ambassador and Comedian Suzi Ruffell will be hosting a second annual Spread a Smile Comedy Night at The Comedy Store, London, sponsored by our friends at Canary Wharf Contractors.

Following on from the success of last year’s inaugural event, Suzi has curated another fantastic evening of stand up comedy, featuring a brilliant line up of famously funny faces, including Alan Carr, Ed Gamble, Rosie Jones, Jen Brister, Jenny Bede and Dinesh Nathan.

Suzi first discovered Spread a Smile when a friend’s child, Trixie, was in hospital and she was able to see first-hand what a difference our visits and entertainers made during Trixie’s stay. Since then, Suzi has supported the charity generously, donating her winnings from TV appearances on The Tipping Point and The Weakest Link, and organising and hosting the first comedy fundraiser in aid of Spread of Smile in December last year.

We are extremely grateful to our sponsors Canary Wharf Contractors for supporting the event:

“We’re so proud to come on board as a sponsor for Spread a Smile’s Comedy Night again this year. It’s set to be a great evening and we’re pleased to be able to support it and the brilliant work the charity does spreading smiles to seriously ill children.” Alec Vallentine, Managing Director – Construction at Canary Wharf Group.

Tickets are on sale now for £23 each, with all proceeds from the event supporting our work spreading laughter and smiles to seriously ill children in hospital wards across the UK.

Event details: Monday 19th December at The Comedy Store, 1a Oxendon Street, London, SW1Y 4EE

Bar and Diner open from 7pm, event starts at 8pm. Strictly over 18’s.

Thank you to Suzi and all of our fantastic comedians for generously giving up their time and sharing their talents with us. And to The Comedy Store for their ongoing support.