GOSH CHARITY’S STAR-STUDDED CHRISTMAS CAROL CONCERT RETURNS AND RAISES £500K

Last night, Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity’s (GOSH Charity) annual Christmas Carol Concert returned for its 24th year. Hosted by BBC Breakfast’s Charlie Stayt, the event brought together famous faces, charity supporters and patient families for an evening of festive performances and readings, followed by a silent auction.

The concert raised more than half a million pounds, which will go towards helping to build the new Children’s Cancer Centre at GOSH. Helping to drive transformation in children’s cancer care and save more lives, the Children’s Cancer Centre will be designed with the needs of children and their families at its very heart and will support every aspect of care from diagnosis to remission.

The star-studded night of festivities, sponsored by Trailfinders, took place at the renowned St Paul’s Church in Knightsbridge where host Charlie Stayt welcomed The Crown’s Imelda Staunton along with actors Jim Carter, Jon Culshaw, Victoria Yeates and BAFTA-winning actor and GOSH patient Lenny Rush. Welsh singer Lucie Jones also wowed the audience with a beautiful performance alongside GOSH patient Lara Mehmet and the incredible Thomas’s Battersea Choir.

The evening also featured moving Christmas readings from GOSH patients, 10-year-old twins Beth and Iona who have both been treated for cataracts as well as Iona receiving treatment which saved her eyesight, and 11-year-old Tia, who received life-saving cancer treatment at GOSH.

Liz Tait, Director of Fundraising at GOSH Charity, said: “Last night we celebrated another magical evening of festivities at our annual GOSH Charity Christmas Carol Concert. This is always such a special event in our calendar, but to be able to raise over £500k to support the building of the new Children’s Cancer Centre at GOSH was truly phenomenal.

“I would like to thank everyone who attended and donated, the event sponsor, Trailfinders, for their continued sponsorship and our wonderful celebrity ambassadors for their incredible support. Most of all, we’d like to thank the incredible GOSH patients and families who gave readings which moved us all.”

The evening concluded with a fundraising reception at the Berkeley Hotel which featured a silent auction, a Christmas cracker raffle, and a speech from former GOSH patient Oscar Oglina, who spoke about his experience receiving life-saving cancer treatment at GOSH when he was just four years old, and how it inspired him to become a doctor today.

Oscar said: “I was diagnosed with stage three liver cancer when I was four, and it is thanks to the life-saving care I received at GOSH that I am here today.

“I know more than anyone that there is no underestimating the magnitude of the work GOSH does and it was an incredible privilege to share my story and to support the fundraising for the new Children’s Cancer Centre at the Christmas Carol Concert – especially as Christmas is such a special time for me and my family.

“I would encourage everyone to donate to this important cause and help more children like me access life-changing care”.

To find out how you can support GOSH Charity this Christmas please visit gosh.org/christmas

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For any media enquiries or more information, please contact:

Elsa Pearson, GOSH Charity press office – elsa.pearson@gosh.org / 020 3841 3237

Notes to editors

About Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity: 

Great Ormond Street Hospital is one of the world’s leading children’s hospitals with the broadest range of dedicated, children’s healthcare specialists under one roof in the UK. The hospital’s pioneering research and treatment gives hope to children from across the UK with the rarest, most complex and often life-threatening conditions. Our patients and families are central to everything we do – from the moment they come through the door and for as long as they need us.

Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity needs to raise money to support the hospital to give seriously ill children the best chance for life. The charity funds research into pioneering new treatments for children, provides the most up to date medical equipment, funds support services for children and their families and supports the essential rebuilding and refurbishment of the hospital. You can help us to provide world class care for our patients and families. For more information visit www.gosh.org.