On Monday 9th December, Samuel Dobson, aged five from Caterham, was one of 40 young guests who attended Starlight’s Children’s Christmas Party at No 11 Downing Street.  The event was hosted by Rt Hon George Osborne MP, Chancellor of the Exchequer and Starlight Children’s Foundation, a national charity that grants wishes for seriously and terminally ill children and provides entertainment in hospitals and hospices across the UK.

Samuel has been suffering from acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and he was recently referred to Starlight for a wish.  Samuel’s wish is to meet his favourite superheroes in Disneyland Paris and Starlight will grant his wish in March 2014.

With plenty of baubles, tinsel and even a Santa’s grotto, the state rooms at No 11 Downing Street were transformed into a festive wonderland for the afternoon.  The Chancellor of the Exchequer welcomed the children and their families to Downing Street and wished them a Happy Christmas, before encouraging them to tuck into the magnificent afternoon tea provided.

The party was particularly exciting as the event was attended by a number of special guests including Chelsea FC’s Frank Lampard and Christine Bleakley, Spice Girl Geri Halliwell, Harry Potter actor Rupert Grint, X Factor’s Diana Vickers, actress Kara Tointon, Strictly Come Dancing's Ben Cohen and Kristina Rihanoff.

Rt Hon George Osborne MP, Chancellor of the Exchequer, said: "I’m very proud to host The Starlight Children's Christmas Party at No 11 Downing Street and it is wonderful to be able to bring some much-needed Christmas cheer to these very poorly children and their families. I would like to extend my thanks to all the celebrity guests for making this day so special for the children. Starlight is a fantastic charity and I am delighted to be able to support this event, which is the first of many activities provided by Starlight for seriously and terminally children over the Christmas period."

For more information about Starlight visit www.starlight.org.uk