Maddison surprises children and families at Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice

James Maddison today (Wednesday 10 April) spent an afternoon at Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice in Barnet to spend time with children and families who benefit from the work of the charity.

Noah's Ark Children's Hospice is the official charity partner of the Club. It supports babies, children and young people with life-limiting or life-threatening conditions, and their families, in north and central London, helping them to make the most of every day.

Three families were in attendance on the day, including Ray, aged 12. When Ray was born, he suffered a bleed on the brain which affected his development. Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice have supported Ray since he was six months old, and also support Ray’s twin brother Arthur through their sibling groups. Ray and Arthur are both huge Spurs fans, with Arthur wearing his Spurs top proudly during a photoshoot with world-renowned photographer Rankin, which took place last year as part of the charity’s annual fundraising campaign, From That Moment.

Also in attendance was Spurs superfan Frankie, aged 11, with his sister Sienna, aged eight, and mum Lisa. Sienna has Krabbe disease, a rare metabolic disorder, and has been supported by Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice since 2018. The entire family access a wide range of services from play groups and family days to sibling activities and creative therapies.

Midfielder James undertook a tour of The Ark with Chief Executive Sophie Andrews OBE, visiting The Therapies Wing and The Accessible Playground before meeting with all three families and their children and listening to their stories and tales of courage. At the end of the visit, the England international gifted a hamper of Spurs-themed games and toys to the Ark for the children to enjoy beyond his visit.

James said: “I’ve had a brilliant time meeting some of the kids and families today, kids who are struggling and families who are really strong and going through a tough moment. It’s been a really heart-warming experience, just to be able to come and put a smile on their faces.

“It was also great to meet Sophie, who was wonderful today and showed me the whole premises. She also said she was going to do an interview at half-time during the Arsenal match!”

Roscoe, parent of Ray who is supported by Noah’s Ark, said: “It’s been a brilliant day. They told us we were going to meet someone from Tottenham Hotspur, but that it was a secret, and so we have been excited about it for a little while now. But we couldn’t wait to see who it was going to be, because my family are huge Tottenham supporters!”

Noah’s Ark has been a proud partner of Tottenham Hotspur since 2016, and the visit is part of a series of activities which will culminate in a celebration of the partnership at the north London derby on Sunday 28 April.

Fans attending the derby will be able to support Noah’s Ark’s work through donations via volunteer fundraisers located outside Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Sophie Andrews OBE, CEO of Noah's Ark Children's Hospice, said: "James Maddison’s visit to The Ark was an unforgettable experience for us as a charity, creating memories for children who are seriously unwell and their families that will last a lifetime. We are incredibly proud to be Tottenham Hotspur’s official charity partner and we’re grateful for their commitment to creating special experiences such as these. This visit is part of a programme of events we are working on alongside the Club this year, which include a celebration of the partnership at the Spurs vs Arsenal game this month.”