Supporters halfway through month-long commitment to give up a luxury in support of Great Ormond Street Hospital

Members of the public and former patients and their families have been joined by senior politicians and celebrities in their bid to give up a luxury for January in exchange for donations to the Independent’s Christmas appeal

Matthew and Carol Thompson, who are giving up desserts

Supporters of the Independent’s Give It Up for GOSH fundraising initiative are now halfway through their month-long commitment to give up a luxury in support of Great Ormond Street Hospital.

Members of the public and former patients and their families have been joined by senior politicians and celebrities in their bid to give up a luxury for January in exchange for donations to the Independent’s Christmas appeal.

As well as celebrating willpower, Give It Up For GOSH shows solidarity with young patients at the hospital who have been forced to give up their favourite foods and activities, such as Ralph Frost who is on a restricted diet while he waits for a new kidney.

The Christmas Appeal has been following Ralph’s story, along with dozens of others patients since November as part of our appeal, and now readers can offer a small token of support by supporting staff and patient families at the hospital who are taking part in Give It Up for GOSH.

All those who Gave it Up for GOSH helped raise money for this year's charity appeal, which has already raised more than £2.7 million with three weeks to go.

The Give It Up for GOSH campaign is being supported by fundraising website JustGiving and donations to the initiative are also being doubled under a pledge from the Treasury to support the appeal with match funding.

Give It Up for GOSH updates

Faiza Yasin, healthcare assistant and former GOSH patient Giving up: Cake, chocolate and all other sweet treats “January is my birthday month and I would never have been able to celebrate my first birthday if it wasn't for GOSH. I thought it would be nice to take away the treats I normally celebrate my birthdays with and replace them with money I raised for GOSH instead.

“It was my birthday on January 5th and I felt so lost without cake. I love cake and it really makes me happy, alongside chocolate – in moderation of course. It has been tough, but not being able to bake on weekends has been tougher, as I love baking for my friends. I passed by a few cute cupcake bakeries on my birthday and I stared at the window displays completely mesmerised like a child, longing to go in and eat one. I knew I could resist because GOSH means more than cake, so I walked away cake-less. There are so many children at GOSH who have to give up yummy treats in place of medicine, even on their birthdays, and I remember this only too well so if they can do it, so can I.”

Annabel Bartfeld, is backing Give It Up for Josh after her 10-year-old daughter Jessica underwent life-saving brain surgery at GOSH

Giving up: Chocolate

“This week has been tough, especially walking into my favourite chocolate shop with my children and looking at the tempting treats. All I do when I’m feeling weak is think about the amazing care my daughter was given and the thought that by abstaining and raising money I will be helping more seriously ill children like my daughter. I just think of the sacrifices they have to make and suddenly the cravings for chocolate seem insignificant.

“I’ve told everyone I know to donate just £10 each. I know if everyone is able to give just a little bit it will make such a big difference.” Annabel has even managed to convince some of her friends to take up the challenge. She said: “Some of my friends wanted to give things up for January to be a bit healthier so this has been the perfect excuse for them.”

Gabby Logan, television presenter and GOSH supporter

Giving up: Sweet treats

“The hardest part was taking Lois [my daughter] for lunch and her having apple cake for dessert. I almost forgot and ate some but she stopped me. The kids are being my cake police. But I am sticking to it – who knew January was so long?”

Danny Care, England rugby player

Giving up: Fizzy drinks

I've been very tempted a couple of times but have resisted the urge to have a fizzy drink, as it's such a good cause and obviously the least I can do is not have one. It's definitely made me healthier, I have been drinking more water and cordial and even made a few fruit smoothies.

My fiancé thinks it's an amazing idea and knows how this is probably the ultimate test for me as she knows just how much I love my fizzy drinks. I can't help think she's trying to test my willpower by casually bringing home a six pack of cold cokes, which she knows full well are my main weakness!

My team mates laughed when they heard I was doing it as they know how much I love my fizzy drinks, and their lack of confidence in me has just been more of an incentive for me to do it.”

England rugby player, Danny Care, is giving up fizzy drinks (Getty)

GOSH medical director Dr Vin Diwakar

Giving up: Cake

”I’m half way through the month and it’s been a real struggle so far, especially when my 14 year old daughter’s Christmas Cake is on the sideboard when I get home and would love some comfort food.

“However, the experience has got my whole family talking about what patients have to do on a daily basis. I was talking to a child on one of our wards who is waiting for a bone marrow transplant and is on a carefully selected diet. It’s great for her growth but it’s tough not being able to eat the things she loves every day.”

Carol Thompson and her son Matthew, 13, who is a patient at GOSH

Giving up: Desserts and cakes

Carol went out for a meal with her work colleagues last week. She said: “It was a huge test of my willpower as most of them were tucking into a yummy pudding, while I just had to sit and watch. At least I know that I only need to wait until February before I can have cakes and puddings again. This highlights how frustrating it must be for children who can’t have a certain food or do a particular sport for many years.

“Thirty one days seems quite a challenge for us to Give it up for GOSH but it is nothing really compared to what lots of the brave GOSH patients have to sacrifice. We’re all committed to this challenge and supporting such a great charity. Matthew is due to make a cake at school for his Food Tech lesson next week but won’t be able to try any of it. He is going to sell the slices of cake instead and keep up with his Giving it up for GOSH.”

Boris Johnson, Mayor Of London

Giving up: Carbohydrates

“Giving up carbohydrates has proved to be a very tough challenge but that is a small price to pay for supporting this most worthy of causes.”

Zac Goldsmith, Conservative candidate for Mayor of London Giving up: Chocolate

"Great Ormond Street Hospital is one of our most extraordinary, most valued institutions. It gives hope to so many families; it saves young lives. It has become a byword for ground-breaking research, life-changing treatment, complete devotion to very sick children.

So when the brilliant campaign - Give up for GOSH – asked me to give something up as a gesture of solidarity with the children at Great Ormond Street, I agreed. But I did so very much aware that nothing I could give up would match or even come close to what is asked of so many of the children who depend on the hospital.

I am in the midst of a frantic election campaign and there’s little time for proper lunch or dinner. So I depend on crisps and chocolates. More often than not, my lunch comes out of a Pringle tube. Giving up crisps and chocolate is a tiny act of solidarity with some extremely brave children. Great Ormond Street is a wonderful cause, and it deserves our support."

It's also not too late to take part yourself. Getting started is simple: choose just one thing to give up, then click here where JustGiving will help you to create a page and encourage friends, family and colleagues to donate.

To Give to GOSH go to: http://ind.pn/1Mydxqt

To find out more about our appeal and why we're supporting GOSH go to: http://ind.pn/1MycZkr

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