insideKENT Magazine Issue 40 - July 2015 | Page 152

CHARITY

TV STAR PHIL SPENCER SUPPORTS
CHARITY EVENT AT SEVENOAKS HOME
Property guru, Phil Spencer, has been on location at a house in Sevenoaks
in support of ‘unique’ Kent hospice charity, ellenor.
The TV star and charity patron was invited to the launch of ellenor’s new
Philanthropy Circle, generously hosted by ambassador Candy Kitsz and
her husband Jan.
Now in its 30th year, ellenor is the only charity in Kent to provide hospice
care to seriously ill people of all ages across north and west Kent. The
majority of its care is provided in the comfort of a patient’s own home.
More than 150 of ellenor’s patients are babies, children and young people
with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions.
Guests enjoyed canapés at the exclusive event on Wednesday 20th May,
while Phil shared anecdotes about his work with fellow presenter Kirstie
Allsopp and his support of a charity “which is so unique”.

Jenny and Scott with their boys and the DIY SOS team

LONGFIELD FAMILY’S
LIFE-CHANGING TV APPEARANCE

Phil said: “As patron of this unique charity, providing hospice care for
families facing terminal illness, I was delighted to be able to attend and
speak about my life, stories of television and why I am so passionate about
this cause.

A Longfield family that appeared on a popular TV show has spoken about
how amazing the experience was and how lucky it feels.

"As a father myself I can only imagine how difficult it must be if your child
is very sick so a charity that can provide vital end of life, cancer and respite
care in the home is incredible – I am so happy to help.

The transformation of Scott Russell and Jenny Watts’ house in Hartley
Bottom Road was featured on BBC One’s DIY SOS on Wednesday
3rd June.

“I am looking forward also to attending the next big event for the charity
– The Orange Ball in London on 6th November.”

They were chosen for the programme as their son Charlie is severely
disabled and they were struggling in their small end-of-terrace home. Jenny
gave up work to provide round-the-clock care for Charlie but the family
faced not being able to keep him at home, as carrying him up the stairs
was becoming a daily battle. Their two other boys Bradley, 19, and Danny,
18, were also crammed into converted attic rooms.

As a charity, not part of the NHS, ellenor is reliant on the generosity of the
local community to be able to provide care to families facing terminal illness.
To find out how you can make a donation or become a member of the
Philanthropy Circle, visit www.ellenor.org.

While the family stayed at Demelza Hospice Care for Children in Sittingbourne,
where 13-year-old Charlie is a service user, a team of dozens of local
tradesmen worked with the DIY SOS crew to transform its home.
In what was the show’s biggest build ever on an individual house, Nick
Knowles and the team rebuilt the whole of the downstairs and remodelled
the rest of the house to make it m