The Sick Children’s Trust, the charity that gives families with a seriously ill child in hospital a warm and comfortable place to stay when they need it most, is thrilled to announce that Strictly Come Dancing judge Anton Du Beke is to become an official ambassador for the charity.
Anton was a professional dancer on ‘Strictly’ for 18 consecutive seasons before joining the show’s expert judging panel in 2021. He was recently the face of The Sick Children’s Trust’s BBC Lifeline Appeal, which was broadcast both on BBC One and Two in September 2022.
The ten-minute programme saw Anton speaking passionately about The Sick Children’s Trust’s ten ‘Homes from Home’ located at hospital sites in Newcastle, Leeds, Sheffield, Cambridge, and London. They provide families with a free place to stay and someone to talk to just minutes away from their child’s bedside, giving them one less thing to worry about at the most stressful of times. The charity runs two ‘Homes from Home’ in Newcastle, with Scott House supporting families of sick children being treated at the Freeman Hospital and Crawford House serving families at The Royal Victoria Infirmary.
His involvement in the BBC Lifeline Appeal was crucial in raising both awareness and vital funds for a charity that is currently celebrating its 40th anniversary, having helped over 73,000 families since being founded by two paediatric doctors in March 1982. The appeal raised more than £30,000 for the charity, a wonderful total that surpassed all expectations. As it costs The Sick Children’s Trust £40 to support a family for one night, the money raised will directly fund over 750 nights in their ‘Homes from Home’.
As an ambassador for The Sick Children’s Trust Anton will continue to play a vitally important role in raising the profile of the charity, helping to reach new audiences and inspiring fundraising activity.
As part of his drive to raise awareness, Anton will be hosting a golf day for The Sick Children’s Trust on 6 July, at the stunning Brocket Hall in Hertfordshire.
“I am absolutely delighted to officially become an ambassador for The Sick Children’s Trust.
“I can’t imagine, and I never want to imagine my children not being well, but if I did I would want to be able to stay somewhere near them.
“The charity offers a solution to families who need to be close to their children at such a critical time by offering welcoming ‘Homes from Home’.
“When your world comes to a grinding halt, and you may be travelling away from home to have the support that we give is a brilliant thing. We want to do all we can to raise awareness and offer this valuable service to take pressure off families so they can concentrate on being with their children.”
Anton Du Beke
“Anton has been supporting The Sick Children’s Trust for some time but we are thrilled to welcome him officially as an ambassador. He is much loved and so well known throughout the country and his support will help us raise much needed awareness and funds at what is an incredibly challenging time for our charity. We look forward to working together to help ensure families with a sick child in hospital can stay in our welcoming ‘Homes from Home’ when they really need it.”
Jane Featherstone, the Chief Executive Officer of The Sick Children’s Trust
To raise much-needed funds for The Sick Children’s Trust, Anton has set up a JustGiving page where his fans can make a direct donation to the charity: For more information, please visit justgiving.com/campaign/SCTAntonduBeke.
To register for Anton’s golf day on 6 July at Brocket Hall, please visit sickchildrenstrust.org.
