Nine-year-old girl from Crawley, Sussex, announced as Young Ambassador for Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity in support of Chris Evans’ CarFest presented by bp pulse

Published: 22nd March 2024
Read Time: 8 mins

Introducing 11 young ambassadors of its charity partners, inspiring everyone to #DoMoreGood

(Ellie, 9 pictured left, brother William and mum Nancy, pictured right)

CarFest presented by bp pulse, the renowned family-fundraising festival founded by Chris Evans, is on a mission to #DoMoreGood and continue to make a difference to the lives of young children and their families across the UK. All the festival’s attendees are directly helping create a positive impact, as a percentage of every ticket sold goes towards eight amazing charities - helping kids, teens, and families up and down the country.

The family-fundraising festival has unveiled 11 individuals as the ‘Faces’ of this year's Do More Good Week initiative, with each one serving as a representative for one of the festival's eight charity partners. These partnerships result in crucial funding, directly enhancing and transforming lives across the UK. Throughout this week (Monday 25th March to Sunday 31st March), the chosen individuals are opening up and sharing their impactful stories, providing festival-goers with a profound understanding of the real-life difference their attendance makes.

Launched in 2012, CarFest has been a stalwart supporter of UK children’s charities, generating over £25 million for its charitable partners since its inception. Scheduled over the Bank Holiday weekend of 23rd-25th August at Laverstoke Park Farm, Hampshire, CarFest presented by bp pulse will feature seven distinct yet connected festivals in one: AdventureFest, FoodFest, KidsFest, RetroFest, StarFest, SpaFest, and, of course, CarFest!

Nine-year-old Ellie from Crawley, Sussex, is this year’s ambassador for Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity. Before Ellie was born, her older brother William was diagnosed with a severe kidney disease, which meant that at just two and a half years old his father, James, donated a kidney. However, shortly after the transplant, William’s body began to reject the kidney, even with the support of immunosuppressants. William and Ellie’s parents Nancy and James, aware of their need for help, not just for William but for his siblings Ellie and brother Arthur, referred themselves to Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity, which supports families caring for a seriously ill child, which proved to be life-changing.

The family were provided with much-needed relief from their Rainbow Trust Family Support Worker Janet. Rainbow Trust has nine Care Teams of Family Support Workers across England providing practical and emotional support to families caring for a child with a life-threatening or terminal illness. Family Support Workers like Janet provide families and children like Ellie with practical and emotional support to suit their individual needs to help them cope. Janet proved to be an essential lifeline for the family when just last year, Nancy also donated one of her kidneys to William. During this time, Janet took Ellie and Arthur on several day trips and would even entertain them both when they were with their grandparents. Overall, Janet has provided practical and emotional support in various ways, including: spending time with Ellie and Arthur while their parents were in the hospital with William; ultimately helping to provide a sense of normality for the family.

Speaking on how instrumental Rainbow Trust has been in supporting Ellie and Arthur, mum Nancy states:

“It really helped Ellie and Arthur,” Nancy said. “I was so grateful Janet took them out. The focus is on William a lot so I did not want them to feel as though they had been forgotten about. Ellie loves seeing Janet. She talks to them and takes them off and plays games with them so they don’t get bored.”

Zillah Bingley, Chief Executive of Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity, said: “We are so grateful to CarFest and to Nancy, James, Ellie, Arthur, and William for sharing their powerful story to highlight Rainbow Trust’s work. No one can explain the work we do better than the families we support .”

Each ticket sold for CarFest helps Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity to pair families with skilled Family Support Workers, offering practical and emotional support to families navigating serious childhood illnesses, and having a profound impact on their lives.

Founder Chris Evans expressed, “CarFest exists for one purpose – to raise as much money as possible for UK based children’s charities. The fact that every single visitor to CarFest directly impacts how much we raise and how we help young people like Ellie, William and Arthur is what makes it so special. Do More Good Week is about coming together as a community to make even more of a difference in the lives of others less fortunate around the added heat of our spring launch for this year’s main event”.

Of course, CarFest wouldn’t be complete without a line-up of star-studded talent! X Factor icon Olly Murs, Eurovision heavyweight Sam Ryder, queen of British soul and our hearts Beverley Knight, pop rock legends Scouting for Girls, and reggae pop fusion pioneers UB40 ft Ali Campbell are just a few of the musical treats in store. Stay tuned for regular talent announcements, including the return of festival favourites and lots of new special guests.

Beyond the music, CarFest presented by bp pulse will host celebrities such as actor Rob Brydon, car aficionado James May, astronaut Tim Peake, and comedian Ben Miller along with renowned chefs and wellness experts. See these captivating personalities as they share hilarious and heartwarming anecdotes and unveil inside scoops, ensuring an enthralling experience all weekend!

Since its inception in 2012, the festival’s core mission has been to raise funds for UK children's charities. In 2024, the festival will be supporting BBC Children in Need, Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust, My Black Dog, Rainbow Trust Children's Charity, Starlight Children’s Foundation, Teenage Cancer Trust, Young Epilepsy, and the local Hampshire-based charity Naomi House & Jacksplace.

The brainchild of radio presenter Chris Evans, the festival will be entering its 13th edition this August, and it promises to be the best yet. With enough activities and attractions to keep the whole family entertained, it’s the perfect way to spend the Bank Holiday weekend.

Tickets are now on sale at www.carfest.org.

Ends

Editors notes

CarFest is the brainchild of radio presenter Chris Evans. Featuring an incredible combination of cars, food, live music and family entertainment, the inaugural weekend event was staged at Laverstoke Park Farm in Hampshire in August 2012.

Fundraising details: All profits from CarFest, including a percentage of the price of each ticket, will be donated to UK children’s charities.

BBC Children in Need (a charity registered in England and Wales under number 802052 and in Scotland under number SC039557) will receive 50% of the total funds raised.
The following six charities will each receive 7% of the total funds raised:
Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust (Registered Charity No.1096491 in England & Wales and SCO44013 in Scotland)
My Black Dog (Registered Charity No.1182690 in England & Wales)
Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity (Registered Charity No. 1070532)
Starlight Children’s Foundation (Registered Charity No.1062559 in England & Wales and SC039757 in Scotland)
Teenage Cancer Trust (Registered Charity No.1062559 in England & Wales and SC039757)
Young Epilepsy (Registered Charity No. Charity 311877 in England & Wales).
Local Hampshire based hospice, Naomi's House & Jacksplace (Registered Charity No.1002832), will receive 2% of funds.
The remaining 6% will be donated to a number of other charities that will be confirmed over the coming months, including charities local to CarFest event sites.

2024 HEADLINE PARTNER:

bp pulse is the headline partner for CarFest 2024

bp pulse provides fast charging for electric vehicles. The bp pulse EV charging network is one of the UK’s largest – and includes the UK's biggest public EV charging hub at the NEC in Birmingham.

Plug into fast, rapid and ultra-fast chargers – in ultra-convenient locations. Whether you’re shopping for groceries or staying in a hotel – just plug in, power up and go.

2024 FEATURE PARTNERS:

CarFest is supported by a number of key partners:

Costa Coffee is the Official Coffee of CarFest and host of The Big Early
Dulux is the SpaFest Stage Partner
Kwik Fit and Michelin are the Track, Motorsport Paddock & Driver's Lounge Partner
Napoleon Grills is the Big BBQ Cookout Partner
Timothy Taylor's hosts the BarFest Arms at the festival

SUPPORTED BY:

The festival is also supported by:

Coca Cola is the Official Soft Drinks Partner
Hopical Storm is the Official Beer Partner
Laverstoke Park Farm is the Venue Partner
Virgin Radio UK is the Media Partner

NOTES TO EDITORS:

Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity:

Currently marking its 37th anniversary, Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity supports families who have a child aged 0-18 years with a life-threatening or terminal illness.

There are an estimated 86,000* children in England with life-limiting or life-threatening conditions. Thousands of families have to face the very real possibility that their child may die and struggle to cope on a day-to-day basis. Our Family Support Workers provide a lifeline to these families and children.

When a child has a serious illness, family life is turned upside down and time becomes more precious than ever. Rainbow Trust pairs each family with an expert Family Support Worker who enables them to make the most of time together, giving them practical and emotional support, whenever they need it, for as long as is needed.

Rainbow Trust has nine care teams of Family Support Workers across England including: Essex, Southampton, the South West, London & the South East, Greater Manchester, the Kentown Support Team in Lancaster, the North East, Reading and Liverpool.

Rainbow Trust supports the whole family including parents, carers, the unwell child, brothers, sisters and grandparents. Support is hugely varied and depends on the needs of the family. It can include: