'We can't let this happen': Celebrities come out in support of Zoe's Place hospice

Celebrities from across the country are urging people to "do what they can" to help save a specialist baby hospice on the brink of closure.

Zoe's Place has been providing palliative and end-of-life care to children up to five-years-old in Liverpool for more than 30 years, but after failing to secure funds for a new £3.5m hospice trustees announced it would close for good at the end of 2024.

It now has just 30 days to raise £5 million to build a new facility which will mean the hospice can stay in the city.

Reacting to the news, celebrities including Paddy 'The Baddy' Pimblett, John Bishop, Robbie Fowler and Iain Stirling have announced they will be helping the desperate fundraising to keep the hospice open.

Paddy, a UFC champion from Huyton, took to Instagram upon hearing the "baffling" announcement and promised to do everything he could to support the hospice.

He said: "[It's] just baffling to me. The amount of work they do, what they do for kids and for families. How on earth could Zoe's Place be getting shut?

"We can't let this happen. This is a children's hospice. I just can't believe this is happening."

Paddy went on to call for Liverpool and Everton footballers to get involved with fundraising, while also promising to support the hospice through his own foundation.

He went on to say: "It's a staple of the city. It cannot go. Lives depend on it.

"It's been there as long as I remember. It was next to my school growing up."

Former Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler has also urged people to get behind the campaign and ensure Zoe's Place can continue its vital work.

"I’ve been a proud ambassador for Zoe’s Place for a few years now and seen first-hand the amazing work they do for children and families," he said.

"This city is renowned for standing together and we should all do what we can to support this campaign and ensure Zoe’s Place is able to continue its incredible work.”

Celebrity fundraisers have already begun for the hospice, but Liverpool West Derby MP Ian Byrne has warned a huge sum will have to be raised to keep the hospice going.

He said: "We've got a month to raise £5 million to build the new site. So all the pledges of support and outpouring of help needs to be actioned.

"It's took them back a little bit the amount of support they've received... Now it's just about turning that support into money."

After meeting with trustees of the hospice in an "extremely positive" discussion, he said the centre was determined to raise the money.

"This is a big ask," he said. "But if there is any city that can do this, Liverpool can.

"Now let's make this happen for the children, families and the amazing staff of this treasured and special place."

He added: "We are going to be asking the people with the deepest pockets in this city to dig deep. We need to throw everything at this.

"The message from staff members at Zoe's Place today was to say thank you to everyone for the outpouring of love and support this week - now we need to channel that love into donations."

Among the various fundraisers, Liverpool comedian Adam Rowe is taking on the challenge of cycling across India in November.

He said: "If you're from Liverpool you know about Zoe's place.

"I spent the first few years of my life in and out of Alder Hey hospital with operations on my... eye.

"Luckily, my family got the support they needed from the NHS that just isn't there any more for families.

"Now, Zoe's Place provides that support for the kids and those families during such a horrific time. And if they go, there's no alternative.

"Nowhere else has the capacity to take care of the 50 families that Zoe's Place currently looks after."

Since announcing the 450km challenge, Adam's fundraiser has already raised close to £40,000 for Zoe's Place.

Other comedians will be raising money for the hospice with a set of comedy gigs at the end of October.

It took less than a minute for a charity show to sell out, which will feature John Bishop, Iain Stirling, and Jason Manford.

In May 2024, Zoe's Place made an appeal for donations ahead of its lease running out in 2025.

The money would be used to build a new hospice in a different location but despite raising over £1 million, delays during the planning process left "insufficient time to construct the building."

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