Over 70 stars from Emmerdale, Coronation Street and Hollyoaks, along with footballers and their wives are all coming together to show their support for the Manchester-based children’s bereavement charity - Once Upon a Smile - at its annual black tie grand ball.
The event, being held on Saturday 21st April at The Point, Emirates Old Trafford cricket ground, is fully sold out (in record time) with over 550 people set to attend, and will see all the money raised on the night going to the charity.
Actors Danny Miller and Daniel Jillings set up ‘Once Upon a Smile’ seven years ago after losing a friend, leaving behind a wife and young family. Seeing first-hand the lack of support available for families, like theirs, going through a bereavement who desperately needed financial and emotional support, the friends decided to set up the ‘Once Upon a Smile’ charity.
Danny Miller said: “Losing Gavin seven years ago was really hard and seeing his family struggle to come to terms with their loss and not get any kind of support was awful. We knew we had to do something.
“Setting up ‘Once Upon a Smile’ means so much to us and seeing how it has grown over the year is incredible. We have been able to help hundreds of families over the years thanks to money raised from events such as this and are methodically growing the charity to ensure the support we provide is around for years to come.”
Most recently ‘Once Upon a Smile’ supported victims and their families following the horrific Manchester bombing, as well as school friends affected by the loss of the children in the Walkden house fire.
Danny continued: “We are really looking forward to the ball and hopefully raising some amazing amounts of money that we know will massively help bereaved families at their time of need.”
Several celebrity friends will be attending the evening including Danny’s on-screen husband, Robert, played by Ryan Hawley and his on-screen sister ‘Liv’ played Isobel Steel who will also be performing on the evening.
Following Danny’s dad, the legendary Vincent Miller, announcing his retirement from hosting duties last year, there is a surprise celebrity host for the evening and there will also be a host of musical talent including: one of the UK’s most talked about rappers, global pop band preparing for their new UK tour and a British singer and songwriter whose debut single and album went straight to the top of the charts and became the hit of the summer.
For further information on Once Upon a Smile, please visit the website on https://www.onceuponasmile.org.uk/ or follow on Twitter - @sidley_ouas and Facebook - @ onceuponasmile