Look To The Stars News: Great Ormond Street Hospital

Children's Hospital Benefits From Formula One Party

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

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.

Big Audience, Big Screen, Big Movie

Thu, 15 May 2008 11:26:50 -0000

Written by Elizabeth Willoughby

Liam Neeson will attend London’s première charity showing of The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian at The O2 arena on June 19, the latest film Neeson has loaned his voice to.

The big deal about this première, the sequel to the 2005 film of C. S. Lewis’ book “The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe”, is the size of the screen and audience: a giant cinema screen will be installed into the arena for 10,000 viewers.

Walt Disney Pictures and Walden Media will donate proceeds of ticket sales to the Great Ormond Street Hospital, a world-leading children’s hospital that hosts a wide range of specialists for research and treatment of children’s rare, complex and life-threatening conditions.

Besides the millions the Hospital is trying to raise for refurbishment of the 150-year-old facilities, it is partnering with Disney to raise £10 million for the construction of a new restaurant, café and Disney Interactive Zone. The Zone, which will be created by Disney ‘imagineers’ together with hospital design teams, will be a meeting area for patients and families.

If Disney’s Prince Caspian special effects are any indication, the Zone should be the perfect place for children to forget about their health troubles, at least for a while.

Johnny Depp Donates To Children's Hospital

Wed, 16 Jan 2008 11:13:39 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

There is an unconfirmed report that actor Johnny Depp has made a huge donation to the children’s hospital that saved his daughter’s life.

Several of the world’s major news networks have reported that the star of over 40 movies has given $2.2 million to the Great Ormond Street Hospital in London, although the Charities Aid Foundation in England has reported the story as a hoax.

Depp’s 8-year-old daughter, Lily-Rose, was hospitalized in March after E. coli poisoning caused her kidneys to fail. Depp and his long-time partner, Vanessa Paradis, put their lives on hold during Lily-Rose’s 9 day illness, bringing the production of Depp’s new film, “Sweeney Todd”, to a standstill.

“To say it was the darkest moment, that’s nothing,” the 43-year-old actor told Entertainment Weekly. “It doesn’t come close to describing it. Words are so small.”

Depp also personally thanked Lily-Rose’s five doctors and nurses, and invited them to the premiere of “Sweeney Todd” in London last week.

The donation follows a surprise visit to the hospital on November 29, during which Depp spent four hours in character as Pirates of the Caribbean’s Captain Jack Sparrow – he had the costume sent over specially from Los Angeles – reading bedtime stories to the young patients.

The Great Ormond Street Hospital 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. Depp has openly praised the work the staff did to help his daughter and the many other children and families that are treated there.

“It was the most frightening thing we have ever been through,” he said. “It was hell. But the magic is that she pulled through beautifully. Great Ormond Street was terrific, a great hospital.”

Depp’s donation was followed by a pledge of $1.96 million from The Walt Disney Co. as part of a partnership to help the hospital raise $19.6 million for a redevelopment that will include a Disney-branded interactive zone for children and youths.

The relationship between Disney and Great Ormond Street dates to 1939, when Walt Disney acquired the animation rights to “Peter Pan” from the hospital. “Peter Pan” author J.M. Barrie gifted the hospital all rights to the story in 1929.

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.

Celebrities Lend Their Hands To Charity

Fri, 16 Nov 2007 09:58:29 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Over 40 celebrities from around the world are featured in a special new book to be released in time for Christmas.

“Celebrity Handprints”, set to be published on December 1, is the culmination of two years work for author James Preston. Since November 2005, Preston has scoured the globe in search of famous names who were willing to dip their hands in ink and leave a lasting mark on paper. And his peculiar pursuit opened doors to some of entertainment’s biggest stars, including Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, Matt Damon, and Keira Knightley.

Over the course of his travels, Preston collected more than 100 handprints and accompanying photos of some of the brightest stars in film, television, music and sports, 42 of which are to be included in the new book. All of the proceeds from the publication will go to benefit two British children’s charities – Children in Need and the Great Ormond Street Hospital.

Also available is a series of limited edition prints of the handprints, suitable for framing. The cost for each print, which also includes a photograph of the star involved, is $100. 30% of the total will go to both charities.

Other stars involved in the project include David Beckham, Robbie Williams, Will Smith, Joss Stone, Alicia Keys, Shakira, Sir Richard Branson, Sir Tom Jones, Linkin Park, Avril Lavigne, Snoop Dogg, Samuel L. Jackson, Wyclef Jean, the Kaiser Chiefs, the Smashing Pumpkins, Snow Patrol, Star Wars creator George Lucas, and many more.

The book will be available for $40 from bookstores and Amazon, and both the book and the prints will be able to be purchased from www.celebrityhandprints.org.

Elton John, P. Diddy and Andrew Lloyd-Webber to Celebrate Life of Princess Diana

Thu, 28 Jun 2007 21:03:21 -0000

Written by Myrlia Purcell

This Sunday, July 1st, music will fill the skies in remembrance of Princess Diana. The event was organised by her sons, Prince William and Prince Harry to celebrate her life, ten years after her death.

Concert For Diana will take place at Wembley Stadium in London, and is showcasing a wide variety of musical styles, from Andrew Lloyd-Webber to P. Diddy. Legends Elton John, Rod Stewart and Tom Jones will be joined by the likes of Joss Stone, Nelly Furtado, Pharrell Williams, Kanye West and James Morrison.

Many more performances will take place during the 8-hour-long event, including those by Duran Duran, Take That, Lily Allen and the English National Ballet.

Proceeds of the event go to charities which were supported by the Princess, and to charities of which her sons are now Patrons. These include: The Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund, Centrepoint, Sentebale, National AIDS Trust, The Leprosy Mission, the Royal Marsden Hospital and Great Ormond Street Hospital and the English National Ballet.

Tickets cost £45, but those who cannot make it to the concert can view it online at the Concert For Diana website.

Kylie, Moby and McCartney Give Charity Canvases

Sat, 27 Jan 2007 18:44:33 -0000

Written by Steve Purcell

The Hospital Gallery in London’s Covent Garden is to exhibit a collection of celebrities’ paintings before they are sold at auction to aid Great Ormond Street Hospital.

Celebrity contributors to “The Alive and Well Dog Project” include artist Damien Hirst, and such stars as Kylie Minogue, Paul McCartney, Moby, legendary soccer player Pelé, and comedian Ricky Gervais. Each of the 130 contributed paintings is an interpretation of a doodled dog drawn by the six-year-old son of event organiser Simon Freedman. The auction could raise as much as £300,000 for the children’s hospital.

The exhibition will run from January 29 to February 7, with the auction taking place at the gallery itself on January 31. A book of the project will also be available, in a limited run of 600 copies.

Great Ormond Street Hospital was famously given the rights to “Peter Pan” by author J. M. Barrie.

Look To The Stars News: Great Ormond Street Hospital

Children's Hospital Benefits From Formula One Party

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Johnny Depp Donates To Children's Hospital

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