Press release
Special celebrity pebbles up for grabs
A total of 24 beautiful pebbles are up for grabs in this one-of-a-kind auction which will raise much-needed funds to help Momentum be there to support more families with seriously ill children.
Footballer Alfie Gilchrist, and TV personalities including Kirsty Gallacher, Angellica Bell, Andi Peters and Zoe Hardman have also taken time out of their busy schedules to support the campaign. Each pebble has been personally signed by the celebrity who painted it, and they also come with an authentication certificate.
CBeebies star Andy Day, actors Brian Blessed, Kenneth Branagh and Rose Ayling-Ellis, Broadcaster Carole Malone, TV Chef Chris Bavin, children’s Illustrator Chris Chatterton, and Paralympian Ellie Simmonds have also painted pebbles. Designs by comedians Lee Mack and Josh Widdicombe, professional ice skater Robin Cousins, sports presenter Steve Sidwell, Astronaut Tim Peake and the brilliant west end star Kim Ismay complete the collection of names that have decorated pebbles for the auction.
Bianca Effemey OBE, Founder and CEO of Momentum Children’s Charity said: “A heartfelt thank you to every celebrity supporter, sports personality, illustrator and all the other high-profile individuals who have taken time out of their busy schedules to support our pebble campaign. It touches my heart that so many incredible names have created some truly beautiful works of art for Momentum. By helping us in this way, celebrities are shining a light on the support we provide for families who have a child who is seriously ill, while also helping to raise vital funds so we can continue to be there for families that need us. Take a look at our auction and if you can, please bid on one of these special pebbles.”
Pebbles have a strong significance to many families supported by Momentum. The charity found that children visiting their respite cabins enjoyed decorating pebbles and leaving them in the beach hut for others to see and this inspired them to do more. Now, when a child is diagnosed, a personalised, decorated pebble is given to them.
Momentum Children’s Charity supports families across London, Surrey, and Sussex whose children are facing cancer or a life-challenging condition. The charity partners with local hospitals to offer personally tailored support to the entire family through our family support workers, both in hospital and at home.
Our celebrity pebble auction is now LIVE and you have until 11am on 11 October to place online bids. There will be a live auction at Windsor Auctions in Windsor, Berkshire, on 11 October, where bidders can come along and place bids for the celebrity pebbles in person. Bidders are also invited to make phone bids by calling Windsor Auctions on 01753 868076.
Take a look at our fantastic celebrity pebbles, place your bids and help us raise as much money as possible: https://bit.ly/4dhuwhs
To find out more about the work of Momentum Children’s Charity, please visit www.momentumcharity.org
Notes to Editors:
Momentum Children’s Charity supports families across London, Surrey and Sussex whose children are facing cancer or a life-challenging condition. We partner with local hospitals to offer personally tailored support to the entire family through our family support workers, both in hospital and at home. Our services include counselling, creative therapies, special experiences, and respite breaks. If the unthinkable happens, and a child dies, we offer specialist bereavement support. The charity receives no government funding and is reliant entirely on voluntary support.
Founded in 2004, Momentum Children’s Charity was started when Bianca Effemey OBE was working as a receptionist on the Paediatrics Ward at Kingston Hospital. Side effects of chemotherapy treatment can be very painful and she became aware of the impact they were having on young cancer patients. It became her mission to get white goods donated to the hospital which could be kept full of refreshments, providing some relief to children suffering with mouth ulcers caused by chemotherapy. Momentum has grown from a very small charity to now supporting around 300 children undergoing treatment and 140 bereaved families every year.
If you are interested in learning more about the work Momentum does, seeing the roles they are currently recruiting for or would like to get involved by attending an event, volunteering or making a donation please visit www.momentumcharity.org
www.momentumcharity.org Registered charity number: 1195373
For more information about Momentum and future press opportunities, please contact: Claire Smith, PR and Communications Officer: clairesmith@momentumcharity.org / 0208 974 5931