Berkshire siblings aged 11 and 9, chosen as Young Ambassadors of Young Epilepsy at Chris Evans’ CarFest presented by bp pulse

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

(Siblings Cash, 11, and Darla, 9, are this year’s ambassadors)

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 to 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!

Siblings Cash and Darla, both diagnosed with epilepsy, are sharing their stories to raise awareness of the condition and encourage people to understand their epilepsy. Cash had his first seizure in 2016 at just five years old. It took three years for the family to receive a diagnosis of focal epilepsy, which means Cash’s seizures can appear differently to what is commonly thought of as an epileptic seizure, as people mistakenly assume all seizures look the same.

Cash lives with weekly seizures that leave him exhausted, and the family are still searching for the right medication to bring them under control. His younger sister Darla’s first seizure was in 2022, when she was just seven. Thanks to mum Kelly’s quick thinking, and her familiarity with the lesser known symptoms of focal epilepsy, Darla was diagnosed with the condition much faster than her brother. 

Aside from the physical impact of epilepsy, the family are keen to promote a better understanding of the condition and how it can affect everyone differently. To do this, Cash has shared his experience of being unnecessarily excluded from a football camp with his friends last year. Cash explained: “They wouldn’t take anybody with epilepsy - they actually had it on their website, kids with epilepsy are not allowed. The coaches didn’t know what to do if I had a seizure, so they wouldn’t let me go”.

Children and young people living with epilepsy are often met with unnecessary barriers due to misconceptions surrounding epilepsy. Cash is part of Young Epilepsy’s #UnderstandMyEpilepsy campaign, which is calling for more understanding of a young person’s individual epilepsy, such as understanding their seizure type, their triggers, their medication side-effects and the support they need to be safe and included in all aspects of life. 

For mum Kelly, epilepsy has become a huge part of family life, and she explains:

“Nothing could ever have prepared me for what it was like to parent children with epilepsy. The constant juggle, the constant anxiety, the constant want to fix everything and make it all better. Make everything ‘normal’ again. The constant worry of when the next seizure is going to happen. You learn very quickly that you’re not just mum anymore - overnight you become a nurse, carer, their pillar of strength, and their biggest advocate.”

The Norford family’s story represents the importance of the work that CarFest presented by bp pulse does for Young Epilepsy. There are over 100,000 children and young people living with epilepsy in the UK today - it is the most common long-term neurological condition in children. Despite this, many remain unaware of the breadth of the condition - there are actually over 40 different types of seizures. Young Epilepsy supports children and young people across the UK through online and outreach services, campaigning, policy work and information services.

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 Cash and Darla, 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

About CarFest

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 
• Cuisinart is the Food Experiences Partner
• 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
• Skoda is the Explore-More Stage Partner
• Timothy Taylor's hosts the BarFest Arms at the festival

SUPPORTED BY:

The festival is also supported by: 

• Aspall is the Official Cider Partner
• Coca-Cola is the Official Soft Drinks Partner
• Domaine Des Jeanne is the Official Wine Partner
• Hopical Storm is the Official Beer Partner
• Laverstoke Park Farm is the Venue Partner
• Ocean Spray is the Official Spirits & Cocktails Tipple Tent Partner
• Pravha is the Official Lager Partner
• Village Hotels is the Official Hotel Partner
• Virgin Radio UK is the Official Media Partner