Christmas has the X factor at Evelina London

Christmas started early at Evelina London Children’s Hospital last week with special visits from X Factor stars and Olympic heavyweight boxing champion Audley Harrison.

 X Factor pop group, Only The Young visited the hospital on Wednesday  10 December to spread Christmas cheer and sing songs with patients, parents and staff, including their cover of Elton John’s ‘Something About the Way You Look Tonight’.

Brave patient Patrick Edgar, 3, who is currently recovering from complex heart surgery, entertained Mikey, Parisa, Betsy-Blue and Charlie by conducting the sing-a-long around the Christmas tree on Savannah Ward.

When they weren’t singing, the group spent the afternoon making friends with the children, talking about LEGO creations, ninjas and doing their best animal impressions.

World famous boxer Audley Harrison MBE attended the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party organised by Evelina Children’s Heart Organisation (ECHO) on Tuesday 9 December.

Audley wasted no time getting stuck into the tea party by making hats with young patients, dancing with Alice and the Mad Hatter, and visiting children on the wards who were too ill to come to the party.

The Olympic gold medallist gave ‘Joy Jars’ to patients on the wards that were filled with gifts and toys. They were donated by the Jessie Rees Foundation in America, whose ambassadors include Audley.

The jars were designed by 12-year-old Jessie Rees during her courageous fight against cancer. Her desire to help other kids in hospital led to the creation of her fun-filled Joy Jars and the slogan ‘Never Ever Give Up’ (NEGU).