All I want to do is help children

Countdown begins to star-studded charity ball as fundraising legend Michael Josephson reveals what motivates his efforts, and the stories of the young people who benefit

- IMOGEN CLYDE-SMITH & GRETA SIMPSON

AT just two years old, Matthew Moss's entire life was turned upside down by a devastating diagnosis.

In November 2021 Mathew's family were given the heartbreaking news that the two-year-old's suspected ear infection was in fact a rare form of brain cancer.

Matthew, from Leigh, was rushed to The Royal Manchester Children's Hospital for emergency brain surgery. He thankfully survived but had to relearn to walk and eat. For a year-and-a-half Matthew, now aged five, didn't eat at all and was tube fed.

In 2022, they were referred to the Rainbow Trust, a charity which supports families caring for a child with a life-threatening or terminal illness.

Mathew's family began getting help from a support worker from the Greater Manchester Care team. The support worker now drives Matthew and his mum Samantha to the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital for his regular MRI scans and supports them through the lengthy appointments.

Samantha said: "Having a support worker there means I can take a break and having someone there to talk to helps me emotionally."

The Rainbow Trust charity is one of many supported by money raised from fundraiser Michael Josephson MBE's annual Charity Ball in Manchester.

The Michael Josephson MBE Charity Ball (MJ Ball) has become one of the region's most RAIN eagerly-anticpated events and TRUS last year raised a record-breaking total of £1,063,872 for children's charities.

Last year's star-studded MJ Ball was attended by dozens of TV, music and sport stars, and featured a performance from chart-topper Sophie EllisBextor, among others.

Michael Josephson himself lived through an abusive childhood and decided as an adult to dedicate his life to raising funds for children's charities.

He has so far raised £8.5million.

Michael has previously spoken of how he was abused both in and out of the care system.