Stars shine on West End stage for children and young people with cancer

Stars took to the West End stage alongside Ted Lasso’s Phil Dunster to raise funds and awareness for the UK’s leading cancer charity for children and young people on Sunday 24 November.

An Evening with Phil Dunster & Friends featured a glistening night of entertainment at the Victoria Palace Theatre in London for Young Lives vs Cancer, with the help of comedian Aisling Bea, and West End sensation Zizi Strallen.

Singer-songwriters Alex Vargas and BEKA performed, alongside comedians Amy Annette and Ed MacArthur. Ravi’s Dream Team Choir’s performance was met with a standing ovation as Ravi and his sister took to the stage supported by children, families and staff from the brain tumour community.

And it was a star-studded audience too, with the likes of Ted Lasso’s Kola Bokinni and Jeremy Swift, Bessie Carter (Bridgerton), Olivia Cooke (House of Dragon) and Tom Read Wilson (Celebs Go Dating) also in attendance.

Phil became an ambassador for Young Lives vs Cancer after his cousin’s four-month-old son Rory was diagnosed with cancer and sadly passed away. Rory’s parents Matt and Amy also took to the stage to perform in his memory.

Phil said: “Sunday night will forever have a place in my heart. Being able to share Rory’s story and in turn shine a light on just some of the brilliant work that Young Lives Vs Cancer makes me so so proud.

“I want to send out such a huge thank you to all the performers who set the stage alight with their brilliance.

“My family will forever be grateful, too, to Young Lives vs Cancer for the care they provided Matt, Amy and Rory. The thing I’ll be proudest of is getting to tell 1500 people about how gorgeous Rory was. I hope we did him proud.”

Rachel Kirby-Rider, Chief Executive of Young Lives vs Cancer, said: “The evening raised the roof with the voices of children and young people with cancer and gave them a stage to raise awareness.

“We can’t thank Phil enough for pouring his heart and soul into making it a great success – and giving all of us a night we’ll never forget.

“It was an incredibly special night and seeing Matt and Amy on stage talk about their baby boy Rory brings home why Young Lives vs Cancer exists – and why we work tirelessly to be there for every child and young person diagnosed with cancer and their families.”

Young Lives vs Cancer is the only charity in the UK with specialist social workers dedicated to providing tailored emotional and practical care and support to children and young people with cancer, and their families.