Ella and Harry
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X Factor's Ella Henderson delights at Downing Street
By Amy TaylorDecember 27, 2012
AN invitation to one of the country’s most famous streets made one Aldershot boy’s day, when he got the chance to mingle with the stars.
Harry Martin-Lumsden, 11, received a special invitation to go to a party in Downing Street, where he met ITV’s The X Factor star Ella Henderson and teen chart topper Carly Rae Jepsen.
Hosted by Starlight Children’s Foundation and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, around 40 children, all of whom have serious illnesses, attended the event at 11 Downing Street.
Harry, who has Nephrotic Syndrome, a disease which causes scarring of the kidneys, was one of the older guests at the party, but his mum Louise said he had been quite excited to meet the singers.
“There was a science man doing lots of different experiments, which Harry found quite interesting,” said Louise. “And there was a buffet so we had lots of lovely food.
“As we left Harry was given a huge gift bag full of toys, games, DVDs and chocolates. His eyes nearly popped out of his head when he saw it.”
Harry was invited to attend because he is on the foundation’s list of supported families.
Louise added: “They really do go through the mill, some of these children.”
She said that the charity was also sending the family to Harry Potter World at Universal Studios in Florida next year, which Harry and his nine-year-old sister Caitlin were very excited about.
“It’s quite hard on the siblings too, because everyone is always asking about Harry,” Louise added.
Harry’s rare condition means that his body is essentially rejecting his own kidneys, much like a transplant patient, which in the long-term could lead to renal failure.
Louise said: “It’s a bit of an unknown disease, but we’re hoping it will be a long time before we have to think about that.
“It’s just nice to have fun time together as a family.”
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