Children are the stars here... It’s an honour to help X Factor Matt proud to help hospice
SUNDAY MIRROR ‘Win hasn’t sunk in, but won’t go to my head’
Matt was delighted to meet one of the stars of his single’s video, sevenyear- old Evie Grimshaw. She has an undiagnosed deteriorating brain condition and has been visiting the hospice nea r Twickenham for five years.
Matt said: “It was awesome to chat to the children and so cool to see Evie get stuck in and play the drums in the music room. They’re all superstars.
“I love all the positive energy that’s about.”
As well as the music room, the hospice has a hydrotherapy pool, with specialist lifting equipment.
There’s also a sensory room with a vibrating ball pool and a water bed. And for parents there’s vital support, including counselling and a massage room.
Evie’s mum Joanne Grimshaw, 38, says Shooting Star has been life- changing for her, husband Justin, 41, and daughter Ruby May, eight.
“At first we didn’t want to come because we thought it was going to be sad,” explains Joanne, of C raw l e y, West Sussex. “But the atti- tude was so positive. Evie absolutely loves it. The staff are amazing with her. Both my husband and I have used the counselling. It’s been invaluable.”
She says visits from stars like Matt are wonderful, helping create exciting memories for families. Children’s hospices differ significantly from adult ones.
The youngsters’ degenerative conditions progress over many years, so families have the chance to build memories and the youngsters do activities they would not ordinarily be able to access. Single mum Denise Taitt, of Barnet, North West London, has been visiting for 10 years with 15-year-old daughter Kye-Kye, who has brain stem encephalitis. She said: “We’d spent a lot of time in institutions before, which were very different. Here parents are given the opportunity to take time out to have some respite. “Kye-Kye needs 24-hour care so it’s reassuring to leave her with people I trust. She loves the swimming sessions. It’s a beautiful EX-WAITER Matt Terry has certainly turned the tables on life. After beating Saara Aalto in last week’s X Factor final, he’s bidding for the Christmas number one and has a contract with Sony’s RCA place. I don’t know where we’d be without it.” It costs £10million a year for the hospice to maintain its standards of care and just 10 per cent of its income comes from the Government, so supporters’ generosity is vital.
Together for Short Lives connects families with local hospices and lobbies for more government funding.
Director Shaun Walsh, who joined Matt for his visit, said the charity provides practical help for 50,000 UK children.
He said: “We urge families to get in touch on our helpline – it’s the first step in getting the support they need.” which looks after the likes of Beyonce and Justin Timberlake.
Matt, 23, still can’t believe it. “I was waiting at Carluccio’s before the summer. The last few months have been crazy. It hasn’t sunk in.”
He insists fame won’t go to his
could support a helpline for three families and children with life-shortening conditions.
£25 could enable them to reach more families through an online support group.
£50 could help families access specialist legal advice through an Advocacy Drop-in Clinic. head. “There’s no chance of me going off the rails,” said Matt, of Bromley, south London. “My family will keep me grounded.”
Dumped by his girlfriend before going on X Factor, he adds: “I’m not looking for love. I haven’t got time.”