Michael Parkinson Becomes Charity Patron

British TV presenter Sir Michael Parkinson has been named the patron of the Child Bereavement Charity in the UK.

The charity provides support and information to all affected by the death of a baby or child or when children are bereaved and also provides accessible training for over 5000 professionals who work with these families and children.

Parkinson has been a long-time supporter of the charity and recently hosted The Ashes Golf Challenge, a major fundraising event for the charity that featured Australian and English cricketers battling it out on the golf course.

“The idea came up when I was having lunch with Ricky Ponting in Australia earlier this year," said Parkinson. “I suggested that if he supported my charity, I would support his. And so the idea of pitching England against Australia in a golf challenge during the Ashes series was born.”

The event – which also featured cricketer Shane Warne – raise over £75,000 for the charity.

“The work that the Child Bereavement Charity does is incredibly important and it’s a privilege to be able to help,” said Parkinson.

“We are thrilled that Sir Michael has agreed to join our team of patrons and lend his support to our work,” said Ann Chalmers, chief executive of the charity. “His personality and flair will make a huge difference to raising the profile of our work and much-needed funds to support families and professionals when the unthinkable happens – when a child dies or is bereaved of someone important to them.”