Kelsey Barratt met stars including Stanley Tucci during her red carpet ‘wish’
Bournemouth-based charity Round Table Children’s Wish celebrates its silver anniversary next month (October) and is seeking former ‘wish children’ to feature in a celebratory book.
Round Table Children’s Wish (RTCW) creates hand-crafted ‘wishes’ for 4-17 year old children with life-threatening illnesses.
The charity was founded in 1988 by Martin Giles, a member of Bournemouth North 1066 Round Table, after he read about a child in America who had his dying wish to swim with dolphins granted.
In the last 25 years the charity has gone on to grant thousands of handcrafted wishes for children across the country, from organising meetings with celebrities, to buying computers, playhouses and toys and sending children and their families on much-needed holidays.
Amongst the wish children already lined up to feature in the 25th anniversary book is Jack Bassett from the New Forest.
Jack was diagnosed with a brain tumour at 16 and Round Table Children’s Wish made his dream come true by sending him to see his favourite television show, Top Gear, being filmed.
Now 25, Jack said: “The highlight of my wish was being able to see how the programme is made and meeting Richard Hammond.
“Round Table Children’s Wish gave me something to look forward to after a very difficult 18 months.”
Also featuring is Kelsey Barratt, who has twice battled a brain tumour, and received the wish of attending a star-studded film premiere.
The charity sent Kelsey, 18, from Ystrad Mynach, near Caerphilly, to London, where she and her mum Kerri were put up in a Leicester Square hotel and got to walk down the red carpet at the Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 premiere.
Kelsey said: “I had photos taken with Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson and Sam Claflin from Mockingjay, and many other celebrities like Gary Lineker, the TOWIE stars, and the X-Factor contestants.
“Seeing all my favourite actors walking towards me was indescribable.
“The whole experience was emotional and I’ll never forget it.”
RTCW director Karen Winchcombe said: “Round Table Children’s Wish has dedicated the last 25 years to granting the wishes of poorly children.
“We are so proud to have been able to support so many children and young people over the years who have faced such terrible illnesses.
“We are also so grateful to everyone who have helped us to achieve these wishes over the years; from fundraisers, to people that have given time in other ways, we couldn’t have done it without them.
“We also give a huge thanks to the Round Table family, which founded the charity and continue to support us today. Sadly, children and young people still get sick every day, so while this happens, we will be here to grant fantastic wishes.”
She added: “We’d love to hear from as many wish children and their families as possible, so their stories can help us mark this wonderful milestone year and never forget those who are no longer with us.”
Contact Round Table Children’s Wish on: 01202 514515 or by emailing: info@rtcw.org
The charity is also hosting a 25th Anniversary Diamond Ball at 7pm on October 16 at The Lighthouse theatre in Poole. Tickets are available from Round Table Children’s Wish on: 01202 514515 or by emailing: info@rtcw.org
