Meet our amazing President and Celebrity Ambassadors who support us in a huge number of ways.
We’re so grateful to them all for giving us their time and energy to raise much-needed funds, attend events and raise awareness of the work that we do to keep families together.
The President of The Sick Children’s Trust is Michael Crawford CBE who has been hugely active and supportive since 1987, over 32 years.
One of our ‘Homes from Home’, Crawford House in Newcastle, is named in his honour.
“I am so incredibly proud of the impact The Sick Children’s Trust has on families’ lives. Last year we supported over 3,500 families with some of the country’s sickest children, providing a vital lifeline at a time of such emotional strain. And together, with your help, we can continue to be here for families, to ensure that no child has to go through lengthy hospital treatment without their family by their side.”
Best known as an award-winning judge on Strictly Come Dancing Anton Du Beke, the acclaimed ‘King of the Ballroom’ is also a singer, TV presenter and a Sunday Times best-selling author. Outside of his TV career Anton is a keen golfer. He is happily married to Hannah and a proud father of twins. Anton became an Ambassador for The Sick Children’s Trust at the end of 2022 after presenting our BBC Lifeline Appeal. Since then, he has hosted our golf day and Afternoon Tea and Dance.
Alice is ITV This Morning’s Consumer Editor. She has presented BBC’s Watchdog, HealthCheck, Face Value, Holiday, and financial quiz: Show Me the Money. She has also hosted Channel 5’s Hot Property programme and LBC’s Breakfast Radio Show. While bringing up twin daughters, Alice wrote A Contented House with Twins, published by Random House. Alice has been a great supporter of The Sick Children’s Trust for many years and was proudly welcomed as an ambassador in 2012. She has twin girls and regularly reads at our carol service as well as recently hosting our Afternoon Tea and Dance.
Tim is an actor and writer, best known for the television series Toast of London, Outlander and Upstart Crow, and the films Paddington and The King’s Speech. His sister had meningitis when she was a baby. He remembers it clearly as he is 7 years older than her. Luckily his family were 10 minutes away from the hospital, but he has a personal connection as he appreciates how his family would have needed a charity like The Sick Children’s Trust if they weren’t so lucky. After taking part in our Cricket in the City event we were delighted when he agreed to become an Ambassador for us in 2018. Tim and his family are wonderful supporter of ours. He reads each year at our Carol Service and hosted both our 40th anniversary Awards Night and Ruby Slipper Gala.
Christina is an English coloratura soprano who has performed for audiences all over the world, including many Heads of State. Recently, Christina sang with Russell Watson at his summer outdoor concerts with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Christina has actively supported The Sick Children’s Trust for many years, performing at our annual carol service every year and taking part in many other events. We were delighted to welcome her as an Ambassador for us in 2018.
Anita first became involved with the charity in 2010 when she supported our fundraising appeal to raise money for an extension at Stevenson House. Anita attended the launch and was instrumental in the success of the appeal. Anita officially became a Vice President of the charity in 2013 and since then has attended house openings and birthdays always keen to spend time taking to families about their experience of being supported by the charity.
Christopher Timothy is an actor best known for his roles as James Herriot in All Creatures Great and Small and Mac McGuire in the BBC drama Doctors. Christopher has been supporting The Sick Children’s Trust for over 30 years and has been an Ambassador since 1992. During this time Christopher has visited many of the houses, read at our carol service and presented a television appeals.
Jen is a children’s TV presenter who regularly appears on Channel 5’s early morning pre-school programme Milkshake! She first got involved with The Sick Children’s Trust through the Big Chocolate Tea campaign, and then went on to support our Pyjama Party. She has hosted a ‘Make the Children Smile’ Party at Acorn House, and we were delighted to welcome her as an Ambassador in 2017.
Sian Welby is a television presenter and radio host, currently hosting the breakfast show on Capital radio. Sian has been an Ambassador of The Sick Children’s Trust since 2017, supporting our Big Chocolate Tea campaign as well as attending events. Sadly before she was born her sister tragically died from Meningitis and therefore the charity is very close to her heart.
Alfie Joey is a key personality in the arts and entertainment industries of the north-east. In addition to hosting BBC Radio Newcastle’s flagship breakfast show between 2009 and 2022, Alfie is a renowned keynote speaker, artist, comedian, actor and impressionist, as well as an award-winning communication coach. Alfie has been supporting The Sick Children’s Trust for 8 years after getting involved with the Toon Council our committee in the Northeast. Since then Alfie has gone above and beyond in his efforts to raise awareness and funds for us including appearing at fundraising events such as the Snowflake Ball and our Ruby Slipper Gala, which celebrated our 40th anniversary of The Sick Children’s Trust. We were delighted to welcome Alfie as an Ambassador earlier in 2024.
On Wednesday 26 June, our wonderful ambassador Anton Du Beke hosted our second annual golf day. He joined us again for a glorious day of golf amidst the stunning surroundings of Brocket Hall in Hertfordshire.
The Sick Children’s Trust’s Afternoon Tea and Dance with Anton Du Beke event saw the Strictly Come Dancing star and acclaimed King of the Ballroom take to the dance floor alongside fellow professional Rosie Ward, with performances from some of the country’s finest young dancers leaving the audience spellbound.
The multi-talented entertainer will continue to play an important role in raising the profile of the charity, particularly in the North-East