Comedian Alan Carr has moved the nation by donating his entire £87,500 prize money from winning BBC's Celebrity Traitors to Neuroblastoma UK, a charity dedicated to fighting a rare and aggressive children's cancer.
A Triumphant Victory for a Vital Cause
After being crowned the winner of the tense BBC spin-off series during Thursday night's final, Carr, who broke down in tears upon his victory, immediately directed his winnings to the cause he has championed for nearly a decade. The comedian has served as a Patron for Neuroblastoma UK since 2016, a role he describes as being profoundly "close to his heart."
In an emotional and grateful post on its social media channels, the charity heaped praise on the Chatty Man star. "Alan, what a moment. We can't tell you how grateful we are," the statement began. They revealed they had watched his progress on the show with "the glimmer of hope that if you did well, it might just mean something big for our small charity. And you did it."
Long-Standing Commitment and Its Impact
The charity went on to laud Carr's unwavering dedication over his nine years as Patron, stating his "commitment, compassion and drive to bring hope to children and families facing this aggressive cancer have been nothing short of transformational." They highlighted the significance of the donation for a smaller organisation, noting, "As a small charity with a big mission, you know how much this means to us." They promised to use the funds wisely, vowing, "We promise to do you proud."
Speaking on the visual podcast Uncloaked, Carr explained the source of his televised emotion. "The charity is so close to my heart that it all became a bit too much," he confessed. He also shared a touching insight into the donation's impact, revealing, "I told one person at the charity and they started crying, so that gives you some idea of how important this money will be to them."
A Lifeline for an Unknown Disease
Carr emphasised the critical nature of the funding, stating bluntly, "Neuroblastoma is such a cruel disease, and this money will literally save lives." He also pointed to the immense value of the publicity generated by the hit show, adding, "It's a charity and disease that no-one has really heard of so with the viewing figures being what they are it's going to be so good for the charity."
Neuroblastoma UK, which was founded as The Neuroblastoma Society in 1982, appointed Carr as its first-ever patron after he met parents of children affected by the disease. Neuroblastoma is a cancer that develops in early nerve cells and primarily affects children under the age of five. The organisation has previously described the comedian as "a passionate, dedicated ambassador" for their life-saving work.
