Look To The Stars News: National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children

Rockers And Racers Invite You To Charity Track Day

Fri, 21 Aug 2009 12:30:00 -0000

As reported by Look To The Stars back in May, motoring enthusiasts had better start getting their engines warmed up for an incredible charity racing event to be held in the UK this September.

The Circuit is a new, exclusive event in aid of the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children’s (NSPCC’s) Child’s Voice Appeal, featuring fast cars, professional drivers, celebrities and action-packed racing.

Pink Floyd’s Nick Mason and former F1 driver Mark Blundell invite you to a day of high octane excitement as you get the chance to push six high performance cars to the limit on four very different purpose built tracks at the Bedford Autodrome.

The event is generating excitement in the worlds of sport and entertainment; David Coulthard, Damon Hill, Vicki Butler-Henderson, Carl Fogarty, Deborah Meaden, Jason Plato, Phil Spencer and Darek Warwick have already signed up as celebrity team captains, and they need you to join their teams for what promises to be a highlight of sporting fun in 2009.

The day includes breakfast, lunch and refreshments and there will be a chance to bid to be driven on a circuit by a current or former Formula 1 Driver in a specially adapted car. Imagine yourself as part of a team of 20, captained by a professional driver and a celebrity from the world of sport or entertainment, accelerating around the autodrome driven by a racing professional!

The Formula Jaguar, Porsche 911 JP3, Palmer Jaguar JP1, Renault Clio Cup Racer, Caterham 7 Superlight, Jaguar XKR, a collection of genuine powerhouses, are ready and waiting for you to test your adrenaline levels to their limits.

Every lap you make will help the NSPCC’s Child’s Voice Appeal. ChildLine is only able to answer two-thirds of the 2.3 million calls it receives every year, which is why we need to expand the service to help more children and young people.

Tickets and info available here.

Jeremy Clarkson To Host Charity Racing Event

Fri, 01 May 2009 14:00:00 -0000

It may be a long way in the future, but motoring enthusiasts had better start getting their engines warmed up for an incredible charity racing event to be held in the UK this September.

The event is organised by Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason and ex-F1 driver Mark Blundell, with Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson hosting the lunch break and auction.

In association with Palmer Sport, ‘The Circuit’ will see participants drive six high-performance racing cars around Bedford Autodrome. The cars are the Formula Jaguar, Porche 911 JP3, Palmer Jaguar JP1, Renault Clio Cup Racer, Caterham 7 Superlight and the Jaguar XKR.

It is hoped that the event will raise a minimum of £100,000 for the Child’s Voice Appeal, the NSPCC’s three-year appeal to raise £50 million to maintain and grow the NSPCC’s helplines, text and online counseling services. The Child’s Voice Appeal aims to raise £50m so that the NSPCC’s vital helplines can answer many more cries for help. To date the appeal has raised £13m. The funds will mean that ChildLine’s volunteers can counsel 500,000 more calls every year; children will be able to choose how they access ChildLine’s help – by phone, online or by text; the NSPCC Helpline can grow by over 60% to counsel 18,000 more adults a year who have concerns about a child; and counselors can provide personalized help by email to nearly five times as many concerned adults.

120 participants will be divided into teams of 20, each captained by a professional driver and a celebrity from the world of sport and entertainment. Drivers will have the freedom to push the cars to their maximum limits on four purpose-built tracks. All drivers will also get a memory stick of onboard footage from their every lap in both the Formula Jaguar and the Palmer Jaguar JP1.

The day begins at 08.00 with breakfast and briefings. Racing starts at 09.30 until lunch break where there will be sumptuous food and refreshments, and the chance to bid for exclusive auction prizes. Racing restarts at 14.00 and the day ends at 17.30.

Racing enthusiasts, keen to pit their driving skills against professional drivers, celebrities and other competitors, can purchase tickets for £2,000 by contacting 020 7825 2608 or e-mailing sports-team@nspcc.org.uk . Further information is also available at www.nspcc.org.uk/thecircuit .

Celebrities Run For Charity In London Marathon

Mon, 27 Apr 2009 15:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Tens of thousands of people pulled on their running shoes and sweated their way through the annual London marathon yesterday, including a number of celebrities who were competing for charity.

Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay was one of many who lined up at the start for his 10th time at the event. He ran once again for the Scottish Spina Bifida Association, an organization that supports, listens to and helps children, adults and families with spina bifida, hydrocephalus and related conditions.

“It’s time for a celebration,” he said. “We’re fighting a global credit crunch, and in terms of coming out and having fun, it costs nothing to come and watch.”

Also competing were British model Katie Price and husband Peter André, who ran for children’s charity Vision and the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children.

“I don’t think you can ever be prepared for the marathon,” said Price, who raised over £250,000 for her charity. “It’s not a normal distance to run.”

“We’ve done the training,” added André. “Physically we may be up for it but I think psychologically is where we struggle.”

Other celebrities to take part included Boyzone singers Keith Duffy, who ran for autism awareness, and Ronan Keating – who ran for Cancer Research UK – as well as British cyclist Chris Boardman, who won gold in the 1992 Olympics and ran for The National Autistic Society, and weather girl Isobel Lang and 2002 Big Brother winner Kate Lawler, who competed for Cancer Research UK.

Last year’s event raised £46.7 million for charity.

London Critics’ Circle Invite You to Film Awards

Thu, 25 Dec 2008 14:30:00 -0000

Written by Isra Shah

The London Critics’ Circle is inviting you to attend their 29th annual film awards at The Grosvenor House Hotel in London.

Proceeds from the event are to benefit The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC), a UK based charity that advocates for child protection through public awareness campaigns, helplines, and counseling services.

Tickets to the Film Awards, to be held on February 4, 2009, are on sale for £200 (US$297) per person, or £2000(US$2970) per table. The star-studded event will begin with a champagne reception, followed by the award ceremony. The evening will continue with dinner and dancing, before coming to a close with carriages at 1:30. Celebrity attendees of past ceremonies include notables such as Hugh Grant, Nicole Kidman, Sienna Miller, and Martin Scorsese amongst others. This year, Dame Judi Dench has been confirmed to be on hand to accept the Circle’s highest honor.

Nominations for the 2009 Awards include a selection sure to please any film buff. Film Section Chair Jason Solomons told Look to the Stars, “I am thrilled with this year’s set of nominations which show a wide range of critical tastes and, I hope, a refreshing mix of studio movies and independent-minded film making.” He remarks that the participation of a record number of critics and films this year will “hopefully…encourage our public to be as proud and supportive of our own films and industry as we (the London Critics’ Circle) clearly are.”

This year’s partnership with the NSPCC continues a tradition dating back to 1994. A Film Awards brochure explains the choice of charity noting, “We (the Critics’ Circle Film Section) are very proud of our long association with the NSPCC, a great and deserving charity that works ceaselessly for distressed, abused and deprived children. Every penny raised by our Awards goes to the NSPCC and towards helping somewhere a child who is in dire need.”

For more information about obtaining tickets to the 29th annual awards, visit the NSPCC website

Kylie Minogue Adds Her Voice To Children's Campaign

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 14:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Pop princess Kylie Minogue is backing a new campaign to boost vital phone helplines used by thousands of vulnerable and victimized children each year.

The 40-year-old singer has pledged her support to raise $93 million for British children’s charities ChildLine and the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC). Both organizations are currently underfunded and need urgent help to extend their phone helpline services, which provide trained counselors for vulnerable children. According to ChildLine, for every youngster using their service, another cannot get through due to under-funding.

“Finding the courage to tell someone about being abused is one of the most difficult decisions a child will ever have to make,” Minogue told Britain’s The Sun. “Sadly their cries for help are not always heard because ChildLine is unable to speak to every child who rings the 0800 1111 number. We can all help to change that by supporting the NSPCC’S Child’s Voice Appeal and make sure those children no longer face their troubles alone.”

The Child’s Voice Appeal is a three-year campaign that aims to help ChildLine answer more calls and protect more children. It will also use funds raised to make the unique service available to children by phone, online and by text.

More information on how to join Kylie in supporting this worthy campaign, visit www.childline.org.uk or www.nspcc.org.uk.

Also raising money for the NSPCC at the moment is a online celebrity auction organized by a retired couple in England – Don and Yvette Courtney.

A dress donated by Elizabeth Hurley and Formula One legend Lewis Hamilton’s baseball cap are just some of the items on offer. To view the auction, visit www.mooreallen.co.uk.

Stars Become Brokers For BGC Charity Day

Thu, 11 Sep 2008 13:30:00 -0000

BGC will hold its 4th Annual Global Charity Day on Thursday 11th September.

Consistent with its theme, “Working Globally – Giving Locally”, BGC’s offices around the world will raise money for charity as they commemorate September 11 by reaching out to help others.

In New York, London, Paris, Sydney and Hong Kong, celebrities from the worlds of music, stage, screen and sport will join the company’s brokers to help raise money for a number of selected charities. All of BGC’s global revenues generated from the day’s trading will be donated to charity.

Events will take place around the globe, with celebrities becoming stock brokers for a day. In New York, stars such as Tony Sirico, Donald Trump, Steve Buscemi, Regis Philbin, Matthew Modine, Leighton Meester, and Scott Gomez will become traders on Wall Street, while in London, Prince Charles will join Kevin Spacey and Jerry Hall in the City to trade on the markets.

Charities that will benefit from this year’s Charity Day will include: Barnardo’s, Breast Cancer Care, Scope, the Jodie Kidd Foundation, the Prince’s Trust, Baby Buggy, the Rainbow Trust, the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, the Variety Club, the National Down Syndrome Society, the Valerie Fund, the Wounded Warrior Project, Nordoff-Robbins, and many more.

The annual Charity Day has raised over $15 million for charities around the world. For more information about this year’s events, visit the BGC website.

Jodie Kidd To Hold Charity Golf Tournament

Wed, 09 Jul 2008 11:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

British model Jodie Kidd is hosting her second annual charity golf tournament on July 21.

The event, which is to take place at the legendary Goodwood estate in West Sussex, will raise money for the Jodie Kidd Foundation – an umbrella organization the model established in 2007 to satisfy her overwhelming desire to help the charities she supports.

Last year’s event raised over $200,000 for three charities: the Monsoon Accessorize Trust, which assists disadvantaged children in South Asia; the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children; and Greatwood, specialists in the rehabilitation of injured and neglected horses. All three charities will also benefit from this year’s tournament.

Last year’s tournament attracted a large number of celebrities, including Ronan Keating, Pat Cash, Jimmy Tarbuck, and James Nesbitt. The 2008 lineup will be announced soon.

For more information on how to participate, visit www.thejodiekiddfoundation.co.uk, or email Emma Gragson at info@thejodiekiddfoundation.co.uk.

Celebrities' Big Wardrobes Emptied For Charity

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 06:52:58 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Shoppers will have the chance to rummage through the wardrobes of some of Britain’s biggest celebrities next month when a new online auction hits the web.

Stars such as the Kaiser Chiefs, Peaches Geldof, Paul Weller, Jodie Kidd, Jo Whiley, Jodie Marsh, and Russell Brand are cleaning out their wardrobes in the name of charity, giving visitors of www.bigwardrobe.com the chance to own some celebrity threads. The big-hearted celebrities have chosen a range of charities that the proceeds of the auction, which launches on May 1, will go to – including Refuge, the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, and Marie Curie Cancer Care to name just a few.

Online shoppers can browse through dresses, jeans, and tops donated by Peaches Geldof, and the pink top worn by Jodie Marsh on her eviction from Celebrity Big Brother. The Kaiser Chiefs have donated a funky brown vintage suit and black bowler hat, as well as a signed Kaiser Chiefs shirt and a couple of signed football shirts, while Russell Brand has donated a signed pair of his famous skinny jeans.

The celebrity auction follows the sale of a shirt donated by Kate Moss over at eBay. The T-Shirt, which was signed by the supermodel, raised almost $400 for the Princess Alice Hospice, a facility for cancer patients in Esher, England.

The hospice needs $13 million a year to provide care for people across south-west London and Surrey, of which three-quarters is raised through donations and fundraising. Over $1,600 was raised overall from items sold in the auction, which included a ring from children’s novelist Dame Jacqueline Wilson and a t-shirt signed by Jayne Torvill, Christopher Dean, Suzanne Shaw, and fellow Dancing on Ice finalists.

Celebrities Kept Busy With Charity Initiatives

Thu, 24 Jan 2008 11:34:57 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Philanthropic celebrities have been more than busy lately, helping charities through a series of unique and exciting initiatives and events.

Although the current Hollywood writers’ strike is keeping the 2008 Academy Awards up in the air, model Heidi Klum has announced she will press ahead with her plans to donate the red dress she intends to wear at the Oscar ceremony to charity.

The donation is part of the Red Dress Program, an initiative between Diet Coke and the National Institutes of Health’s The Heart Truth to raise awareness of heart disease in women.

“Heidi Klum’s participation helps make this program even bigger, and gives consumers a great way to become involved and learn more about a crucial women’s health issue,” said Caren Pasquale Seckler, Group Director for Coca-Cola North America. “Through the Diet Coke Red Dress Program, we’re asking consumers to help us support women’s heart health and giving them the chance to win a one-of-a-kind red dress worn to the Oscars by Heidi Klum.”

The dress will be made available as part of a contest at www.mycokerewards.com, and for every sweepstakes entry, Diet Coke will donate $1 (up to a total of $250,000) in support of women’s heart health research and awareness.

Klum will also hit the catwalk on February 1 during The Red Dress Collection Fashion Show at the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York. The show will feature a range of dresses created by top fashion designers to show their support of the Heart Truth campaign.

Comedian Stephen Colbert has also recently made a donation to charity, with $171,525 being gifted to the Yellow Ribbon Fund, a charity that assists injured service members and their families.

The mock talk show host raised the money through the sale of his “WristStrong” bracelets, which were made available as part of his “Wrist Awareness” campaign started when he broke his wrist last June.

The tongue-in-cheek campaign saw celebrities such as Katie Couric, Brian Williams, and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg wearing the bracelets. It followed the sale of the cast from Colbert’s broken wrist, which raised $17,000 for the Yellow Ribbon Fund.

Another well-known figure to make a donation to charity lately was Hip Hop mogul Russell Simmons, who gifted $300,000 to the Diamond Empowerment Fund last week.

Simmons established the Fund in 2007 to provide resources for education programs designed to motivate Africans in countries where diamonds are mined. The donation comes from money raised from the Simmons Jewelry Green Initiative, a collection of bracelets made from green malachite and rough diamonds. Beyoncé Knowles, Vanessa Hudgens, and Mischa Barton are all reported to be owners of the bracelets.

In a completely different sort of initiative, singer KT Tunstall and Blur bassist Alex James are among celebrities teaming up to write an upcoming children’s book for charity.

The musicians will join a host of stars recruited by the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children for the initiative. Each celebrity will write ten lines of the story before passing it on to the next person to continue.

The final product will be revealed in a one-off reading session before being auctioned off later in the year.

And finally, British television personality Jonathan Ross has challenged comedian Jimmy Carr to a celebrity doubles tennis match that will see the entertainers paired up with 1997 US Open finalist Greg Rusedski and 1987 Wimbledon winner Pat Cash.

The match – which will take place at London’s Albert Hall on March 14 – is part of Sport Relief 2008, a fundraising initiative from Comic Relief. Money raised will go towards helping vulnerable people living in the UK and the world’s poorest countries.

Beckhams Buy Wheelchair For 13-Year-Old Schoolboy

Sun, 17 Dec 2006 10:40:18 -0000

Written by Steve Purcell

Footballer David Beckham and popstar wife Victoria recently stepped in to help 13-year-old Ollie Rycraft, a UK schoolboy fighting a fourth brain tumour who desperately needed a new life-changing wheelchair.

Ollie’s mother Debbie told how she was overwhelmed when she answered a phone call from Victoria Beckham’s mum Jackie Adams.

“When she said that David and Victoria would like to buy Ollie the wheelchair I burst into floods of tears,” she said. “At first I thought it was a joke but then when the news sunk in I just sobbed ‘thank you’ down the phone.”

A letter from Ollie’s physiotherapist Kate Mills had brought the courageous youngster’s struggle to the couple’s attention.

“I wrote and told them what Ollie had been through and within two weeks I received a call from Victoria’s mum to say they would fund the wheelchair and organise everything,” said Kate.

A delighted Ollie expressed his gratitude to the famous couple, saying, “I couldn’t wait to get my hands on the wheelchair because it helps me to get around and be independent […] I might be a Chelsea fan but I think David Beckham is great and a really good player.”

A spokesman for the Beckhams said they donated the money through their own children’s charity, but said that they prefer not to comment on individual cases as the work was not done for publicity reasons.

“The Beckhams’ children’s charity provides mobility equipment for children that need it –– they do it as and when they can and also do charity work for other charities such as the [”NSPCC":http://www.looktothestars.org/charity/215-national-society-for-the-prevention-of-cruelty-to-children] and UNICEF," he said. “The fund is a small but significant part of the charity work they do.”

Look To The Stars News: National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children

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