A trio of celebrities say they are thrilled the Mirror Christmas Appeal is supporting children’s charity Make-A-Wish UK.
YouTuber and former Strictly star Saffron Barker, 21, first raised money for Make-A-Wish as a child.
She says: “I remember I knew a girl when I was little whose family went to America as part of a wish and it really struck a chord with me.
“My friend and I put on a bake sale when we were about eight or nine because I knew even then what a special organisation it was.
“I’ve met some little girls who wanted to meet me as part of their wish, and it’s been absolutely amazing.
"I’ve seen first hand how much of an impact it can have for them and their families, just to lift them away from the things they go through day to day.”
Seven-time Paralympic champion Hannah Cockroft, 29, says: “I’ve been an ambassador for Make-A-Wish for about a year.
"It’s such an amazing charity and what they do in providing children with wishes is just incredible.
“One of my best friends at university, Tahlia Banks, had a wish granted by the charity.
“Tahlia had cystic fibrosis and I remember she used to tell us about the wish she’d had granted, which was to go to Disneyland.
"It was something that really stuck with her... unfortunately we lost Tahlia when we were in the second year.”
Hannah, who suffered two heart attacks in the first 24 hours of her life, adds: “I was so close to needing Make-A-Wish to help me out. I was one of the lucky ones.”
Chelsea and England footballer Millie Bright, 28, says of Make-A-Wish UK: “I love what they stand for.
"They share the message that anything is possible... so important in keeping that hope going.”
The sports star, who did the Keepy-Uppy Challenge in support of Make-A-Wish UK in last year’s lockdown, adds: “I think it’s massive that the Mirror is backing the charity... I hope everyone can really get behind them.”
