12 December 2025
Tottenham Hotspur dedicated their home game against Brentford F.C. on the 6th December to Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice, their official charity partner since 2016.
Mascot for the Day
During the game, Arabella, aged 6, took to the pitch in her role as Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice Mascot. Arabella walked through the tunnel with the whole team and out onto the pitch just before kick-off with Team Captain, Cristian Romero.
Noah's Ark Support
Arabella was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic B-Cell Leukaemia in October 2024 and spent last Christmas Day having chemotherapy at home. We started supporting the family in January 2025 and they now regularly attend our family and sibling groups and events and Arabella receives Music and Art Therapy.
Arabella is now in the maintenance phase of her treatment, which ends in November 2026. Arabella attended the game with her mum and dad, Maria and Michael, and her sisters, Amelia, aged 9, and Isabel, aged 4. Grandad also attended the game to support his granddaughter on her big day.
A Big Spurs Surprise
The day got even bigger at half-time for dad Michael, who is a huge Tottenham Hotspur fan. After the family’s on-pitch interview, Michael was presented with a signed Tottenham Hotspur shirt from Spurs legend, Ledley King, plus a very special surprise video message from his three daughters, shown on the big screen. Capturing the true spirit of the festive season, the video message beautifully demonstrated the warm bonds of support and partnership between Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice, the families we support and Tottenham Hotspur.
Our CEO, Sophie Andrews OBE, also addressed the fans at half-time. Referencing the video message, she spoke about how Noah’s Ark offer these special opportunities for children and families and encouraged fans to donate to fund even more moments of magic and joy. Staff and volunteers also pitched in to fundraise on the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium Concourse.
Challenging Times
Children’s Hospices up and down the country are facing severe challenges right now. The recent funding allocation from the government of £80m over three years is a step in the right direction but without any sustainable funding model it means that children’s hospices can’t accurately plan their service allocation beyond that term. They also face growing inflation and un-planned for costs such as Employer National Insurance: added to a growing demand for their support, both in terms of the number and complexity of referrals. Noah's Ark relies on fundraising and private donations for 75% of our income.
Sophie Andrews OBE said:
"It was a truly special day for Arabella and her family, and we are profoundly grateful to our valued partner, Tottenham Hotspur, for making it happen. These events are also important opportunities for us to highlight our work, engage new supporters, and raise the essential funds needed to continue supporting our children and families."
Michael said:
"The whole day was magical. After a long and difficult year, I was so proud to watch Arabella out on the pitch. When Spurs played the video of my girls, I was truly shocked and overjoyed. Meeting Ledley King was the icing on the cake, I will cherish that moment forever thanks to Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice and Spurs."
Ledley King said:
"It was a pleasure to meet Arabella and her family and to have had the opportunity to surprise Michael at half-time. We managed to have a quick chat, and it is clear he and his family are passionate Spurs fans, which was great to hear! Noah's Ark do such important work in our wider community, and it’s always an honour to meet families supported by the charity."
