Look To The Stars News: Vernon Kay

GOSH, What Auctions!

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 17:26:00 -0000

The Great Ormond Street Hospital is set to benefit from many current and recent celebrity charity auctions, including a date with Orlando Bloom, which brought in £9,000 ($14,600) just last week.

The Pirates of the Caribbean star was on hand at the Victoria and Albert museum with Formula One racing driver Lewis Hamilton, British TV presenter Vernon Kay and Jade Jagger to help raise over £450,000 ($730,000) for the children’s charity.

Hamilton and other F1 stars, such as Jenson Button, Rubens Barrichello, Sebastian Vettel, Jarno Trulli and Kimi Raikkonen have all signed unique displays for an auction benefitting the children’s hospital. The auction will run at Starcards.org until June 30th.

And, starting today, tennis fans can also visit Starcards.org to bid on the only WTA Tour No.1 Jersey signed by nine former World Number one’s, including Kim Clijsters, Amelie Mauresmo, Venus Williams, Serena Williams, Martina Hingis, Martina Navratilova, Justine Henin, Tracy Austin and Maria Sharapova. Also up for grabs are Serena Williams signed designer Nike shoes, and 30 other items. This auction runs until July 5th.

As if that wasn’t enough, also currently on the auction block is an exclusive signed collector’s image from Empire’s 20th Birthday Portfolio which captures Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint. To bid, visit EmpireOnline.com.

The Great Ormond Street Hospitall (GOSH) was the first hospital in the UK dedicated to children, and since its start in 1852, its pioneering work has caught the attention of many well-known people. Queen Victoria, Charles Dickens and author J M Barrie – who donated the copyright to his famous play Peter Pan – were among the first to pledge their support. More recently, Johnny Depp became a supporter of the hospital, after the staff counted his daughter into the more than 100,000 children treated there annually – children who are suffering from the rarest, most complex and often life-threatening conditions.

To learn more about how you can support GOSH, visit gosh.org.

Stars Come Out For Prince's Trust Spring Ball

Fri, 06 Mar 2009 13:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

The annual Prince’s Trust Spring Ball was held in the UK last night, March 5, and attracted a plethora of stars who wanted to show their support for the charity.

Held at the Hurlingham Club in Fulham, the event raised more than £90,000 for the Prince’s Trust, a charity set up by Prince Charles in 1976 to offer support to disadvantaged youth through training, mentoring and financial assistance.

The evening featured performances by singer Will Young and was attended by stars such as Jerry Hall, Erin O’Connor and Tara Palmer Tomkinson. The crowd was entertained by Flavia Cacace and Vincent Simone from Strictly Come Dancing – who danced their amazing Argentine Tango – and enjoyed delicious cocktails and a three-course gourmet meal in the surroundings of magnificent Swarovski crystals.

Also at the event were British stars and Prince’s Trust ambassadors Vernon Kay and Tess Daly.

“It gives young people another chance, those who have been dealt a dodgy hand of cards from being abused as a child, drug addiction, for example, the Prince’s Trust makes them feel that they’re not an anomaly,” said Kay. “Nights like this are how the trust gets its money. These things don’t come cheap, especially in this day and age. Apparently there’s a credit crunch but people are still giving.”

All Saints Get Naked For Charity Auction

Mon, 24 Nov 2008 14:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

British girl band the All Saints have donated a drawing of themselves naked to a new charity auction.

The drawing – signed by all the members of the group – is one of 200 celebrity drawings and self-portraits about to go up for auction to benefit ex-footballer Bob Wilson’s Willow Foundation, a charity set up after the death of Wilson’s daughter from cancer. The organization provides days out for people with serious illnesses.

Joining the All Saints in donating drawings to the auction are Matt Damon, Jude Law, Gordon Ramsay, James Morrison, Bob Geldof, Matt Lucas, Beverley Knight, Martin Johnson, Wendy Richard, Vernon Kay, and many others.

A public exhibition of all the canvases is being held at London’s SW1 Gallery from December 2 to 6. There will be a champagne reception and auction of the top 20 canvases on December 3. The drawings will also be auctioned online at the Willow Foundation website from Wednesday, November 26.

Fairy Wings Auctioned For Charity

Mon, 08 Sep 2008 12:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

A group of celebrities are weaving a little magic for charity this week by auctioning fairy wings on eBay. But before you get too upset about cruelty to fairies, we should point out that the wings have been designed by the stars and absolutely no fairies were harmed in the making of this auction.

The auction, which runs from September 8 to 18, features fairy wings designed by pop princess Leona Lewis and royal Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie. Organized by the Walt Disney Corporation, the auction will raise proceeds for the Great Ormond Street Hospital.

“I loved the idea of the Disney Fairy Wing Auction and was really pleased to be able to help and contribute to such a great cause,” said Lewis. “Great Ormond Street Hospital obviously does such an important job and the Disney Fairy Wings are a really fun way to raise money for such an admirable charity. I’ll keep my fingers crossed on the 8th September that lots of people bid for my wings on the Disney Fairies eBay page – I’d love to see them raise something for Great Ormond Street Hospital.”

Disney has pledged to raise £10 million (US$20 million) to revamp Great Ormond Street. A new café, restaurant and a Disney Interactive Zone will be built with the funds.

Joining Lewis and the princesses in designing wings for the auction are British TV presenters Tess Daly and Vernon Kay, designers Nicole Farhi and Orla Kiely, sports stars James Cracknell, Greg Rusedski and Tim Henman, supermodel Agyness Deyn and the Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson.

The auction can be accessed via eBay.

Children's Hospital Benefits From Formula One Party

Mon, 07 Jul 2008 12:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

It was a case of life in the fast lane for a host of celebrities earlier this week when they turned up at the annual British Grand Prix Party in aid of the Great Ormond Street Hospital.

Hosted by Vernon Kay and Tess Daly, the event raised over £700,000 (US$1.4 million) to build the hospital’s new Heart and Lung Center. Held at London’s famous Bloomsbury Ballroom at Victoria House, the event attracted a host of stars, including producer and hip-hop star Pharrell Williams, Simon Webb, Jamelia, and Formula One’s Jenson Button and Damon Hill.

“I stand fully behind the F1 efforts to make a better life for GOSH’s young patients,” said Button, who was one of the first to arrive on the red carpet – perhaps because of his fast driving skills.

Mark Webber was another driver in attendance to show his support.

“An Australian friend’s little boy was treated at GOSH,” he said. “Unfortunately he did not make it, but in his time at the hospital he was cared for so well that giving my support is a matter of the heart.”

Dinner was followed by an auction, which included the chance to bid on items such as an opportunity to complete two laps in Santander’s two-seater Grand Prix car, driven by ‘The Stig’ from BBC television’s Top Gear on race day of the British Grand Prix, a meet-and-greet with Barry Manilow, and the Steinmetz diamond-encrusted steering wheel used by Kimi Raikkonen.

The evening ended with dancing to the grooves of Basement Jaxx.

Great Ormond Street Hospital in London treats more than 100,000 ill children each year, and specializes in the most complex, life-threatening and life-limiting conditions. It relies on public donations to boost the Government funding it receives.

Sir Paul McCartney - Santa's Famous Charity Helper

Thu, 20 Dec 2007 10:03:27 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

You better watch out, you better not cry, you better not pout, I’m telling you why – Santa Claus is coming to town… but he might not be alone.

The big man in red was joined by his good friend Sir Paul McCartney during a visit to the Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) on December 17, as part of the facility’s 2nd annual Christmas party.

The singer spread some festive spirit around the 1,500 young patients of the children’s hospital, and also took part in a special karaoke session, belting out an impromptu version of S Club 7’s “Don’t Stop Movin’”.

“Sir Paul had everyone singing along,” said one of the partygoers. “The children were thrilled, but it was even more of a treat for the parents.”

The Great Ormond Street Hospital in London is a major children’s hospital that specializes in the most complex, life-threatening and life-limiting conditions. It regularly treats 150,000 patients a year. However, the government funding for the facility often falls short of the hospital’s needs, and the children rely on public donations for their on-going treatment.

“We’re delighted to be able to share this exciting day with the children, as they deserve a wonderful Christmas treat after coping so bravely with the tough year that many of them have had,” said TV presenter Tess Daly who, along with her husband Vernon Kay, also attended the event. “The Great Ormond Street Hospital does such fantastic work in helping the children get better.”

One of the children that Sir Paul met during his visit was 9-year-old Milly Pyne, who was born with a rare genetic disorder where the bones of her face and skull were fused together at birth. This brave young girl from Cumbria underwent surgery earlier this year, and earlier in December was honored at the Woman’s Own Children of Courage awards.

Sir Paul greeted Milly with a big hug, and then pretended to take a bite out of her medal.

The party also featured Santa’s Magical Workshop, where children could meet the big man, along with his elves and reindeer. They were also treated to festive food, and took part in games and toy making.

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