Greenfingers, the charity that creates gardens in children's hospices, has appointed the husband and wife actors Jim Carter and Imelda Staunton as patrons. The charity said the couple shared a keen passion for gardening. "To give children with life-limiting conditions, their siblings and families a chance to spend valuable time together outside in a natural environment, creating precious memories, is invaluable," said Carter, who is one of the stars of the ITV drama Downton Abbey.
Sam and Billie Faiers, sisters from the reality TV show The Only Way is Essex, are supporting a new campaign by the Haven House Children's Hospice. The Haven House Par-tea asks supporters to either attend an afternoon tea held by the charity on 14 March in Woodford Green, Essex, or hold their own event at home, work or school to raise funds.
The singers Duncan James and Lee Ryan from the boyband Blue took part in Vertical Rush, a sponsored run up 42 floors to the top of Tower 42 in London to raise funds for the homelessness charity Shelter. James beat Ryan to the top by 41 seconds in a time of 8m 31sec. About 1,300 people took part in the event, which the charity hopes will raise £500,000.
The Strictly Come Dancing judge Len Goodman and the singer Cheryl Baker have become vice-presidents of Demelza Children's Hospice. Baker has been a supporter of the charity for more than 15 years and last year ran the London Marathon to raise funds. Goodman has visited the charity's hospice in Sittingbourne, Kent, on several occasions and took part in a question-and-answer session at an event for the charity last year.
The newsreader Nicholas Owen, the singer Elaine Paige and the former England cricketer Phil Tufnell were among the famous faces at the Children's Trust's 30th anniversary ball in London on 27 February.
Blesma - The Limbless Veterans, which supports servicemen and women who have lost limbs, has appointed the paracyclist Jon-Allan Butterworth as an ambassador for a new programme of cycling events. Butterworth, a former RAF weapons technician, lost part of his left arm as the result of a rocket attack in Iraq in 2007.
