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Minster girl Eden Ashebhai, who goes to Sittingbourne's Meadowfield School, has party treat, thanks to Starlight Children's Foundation

00:01, 20 December 2013

Eden meets George Osborne and Starlight's co-founder Emma Samms
Eden meets George Osborne and Starlight's co-founder Emma Samms

A seriously ill six-year-old girl met a host of celebrities at a Christmas party at 11 Downing Street.

Eden Ashebhai, of Charlock Drive, Minster, attended the gathering hosted by Chancellor George Osborne, at his official residence last week.

The poorly youngster, who suffers from cerebral palsy, was recently referred to Starlight Children’s Foundation, which grants wishes for seriously and terminally ill children and provides entertainment in hospitals and hospices.

The Meadowfield School, Sittingbourne, pupil expressed her dream of a going on a trip to Australia and the party in London was an added treat while the charity works on making that come true.

Among the guests there were Chelsea footballer Frank Lampard and fiancee Christine Bleakley, X Factor’s Diana Vickers, actress Kara Tointon and Strictly Come Dancing’s Ben Cohen and Kristina Rihanoff.

Eden meets Rupert Grint
Eden meets Rupert Grint

Eden’s mother Vivian Ashebhai said: “She enjoyed tapping her hands on the Chancellor ’s hands when he was saying hello to her.

“This made her giggle. Because Eden is blind she likes to touch and feel.

“She was excited to meet and hear different people having a chat with her, like former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell, Rupert Grint of Harry Potter fame, The Gruffalo character, children’s comic double act Dick & Dom who signed an autograph postcard for her and Incredible Edibles’ Stefan Gates.

“It was Radzi Chinyanganya, the Blue Peter presenter on CBBC that made Eden laugh out heartily by interacting with her and making funny sounds with his mouth.

“Eden was so happy that she was rocking herself back and front on her wheelchair.

“It was a pleasure for me seeing Eden excited and being engaged in chat with Radzi despite her limited speech and complex needs.”

For more information on Starlight, visit www.starlight.org.uk

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