A champion fundraiser who was cared for by Acorns Children’s Hospice as a child has become the charity’s newest Young Ambassador.
Luke Corbet, who has dedicated his time raising funds and awareness for Acorns, was officially appointed to the honorary role this month.
He said: “I’m honoured to become a Young Ambassador for Acorns. It’s a dream come true and another tick off my bucket list.”
Brummie Luke was born with chronic renal failure and received care and support at Acorns in Birmingham, based in Selly Oak. The 31-year-old benefited from respite services and short stays, as well as youth groups and day trips until he received a life-saving transplant aged nine.
Luke has spent the last five years completing various fundraising challenges and sharing the work of Acorns far and wide across social media.
His sponsored feats include abseiling off the Holte End at Villa Park in aid of Acorns in 2015 and the Great Birmingham Run, which saw Luke conquer the city’s half-marathon after just seven months of training and mark the achievement with an Acorns tribute tattoo.
More recently, Luke was named Aston Villa Community Champion in recognition of his efforts.
Luke said: “The last few years have been really overwhelming and surreal. My life is complete knowing I’ve been able to help Acorns. I don’t feel like I’ve done anything special, I’m just paying Acorns back for everything they’ve done for me.
“To be able to survive my condition and go on living my life to the full is in no small part thanks to Acorns. My childhood was spent living on a dialysis machine. But Acorns helped me develop my confidence and gave me a social life and for that I’m forever grateful.”
Emma Aspinall, Director of Care at Acorns, said: “We’re thrilled to announce Luke as our newest Young Ambassador. Luke is already a fierce advocate for Acorns and a committed fundraiser so to have him join us in this official role seemed only right.
“Having received care and support from Acorns as a child, Luke has first-hand experience of the vital services we provide to children and families.
“We hope his story will inspire others and encourage them to follow his lead by supporting Acorns. Your help is needed now more than ever.”
Acorns Children’s Hospice offers a network of specialist palliative care and support for babies, children and young people with life limiting and life threatening conditions, as well as support for their families.
It costs the charity £27,000 per day to provide its care and services and it relies heavily on the generosity of local businesses and the community for the majority of this amount.
To find out how you can support Acorns, please visit www.acorns.org.uk/support
ENDS
Photo caption: Luke Corbet has become Acorns newest Young Ambassador.
For more information or for interview, photograph or filming opportunities, contact the PR and Communications team:
David Chamberlain: 01564 825020 / 07817 612422 / david.chamberlain@acorns.org.uk
Nicki Robinson: 01564 825062 / 07814 302153 / nicki.robinson@acorns.org.uk
Notes to editors:
Due to the sensitive nature of Acorns care services it refrains from using the words ‘terminal’ or ‘terminally ill’ in its press releases and public communications when describing the children who use Acorns and the conditions that they have. Instead, Acorns uses the words ‘life limited’, ‘life limiting’, or ‘life threatening’. Acorns kindly requests that you respect this in your communications when referring to Acorns Children’s Hospice. Acorns children have a lot of living to do. Thank you.
• It costs £27,000 every day to run Acorns services providing care for children and support for their families. The charity relies heavily on donations to fund the majority of its activities.
• To find out more about Acorns, please visit www.acorns.org.uk
