Beyonce Performs 'I Was Here' For United Nations World Humanitarian Day

Earlier this month Beyonce donned a sparkly Marc Bouwer gown and recorded the video for her latest song, ‘I Was Here,’ in front of a live audience at the United Nations in New York.  The video was released on Monday, August 19th, World Humanitarian Day with the goal “to inspire people all over the world to do something good, no matter how big or small, for someone else.”  The video features footage from recent disasters and images of humanitarian workers who have made a real difference.

Beyonce recently revealed, “I feel like we all want to know that our life meant something and that we did something for someone else… That we spread positivity no matter how big or how small.” Prepare to well up a little...

Marie Curie Cancer Care Fundraiser

On Tuesday night I attended Heather Kerzner's star-studded fundraiser for Marie Curie Cancer Care. Marie Curie Cancer Care is best known for its network of 2,700 nurses, who provide vital and free end of life care to patients with terminal illness in their own homes, or in one of its nine hospices.

The beautiful ballroom at Claridges, filled with celebrity florist Rob van Helden’s heavenly pink peonies and red roses, looked almost as stunning as the glamorous guests, including Kate Moss and Jamie Hince, Ronnie Wood, Yasmin Le Bon, Holly Valance and Nick Candy, Tamara Beckwith, Geri Halliwell, Sarah the Duchess of York and Princess Beatrice.

Above:  Wearing a Nanette Lepore velvet dress and turquoise Chanel shoes.  Below: (clockwise) David Bailey and Sarah the Duchess of York, a rocking Ronnie Wood, Holly Valance, Richard Dennen and Kelly Eastwood, a papping Kate Moss, Matthew Freud with Heather Kerzner, Kate Moss and Jamie Hince. Photographs by Christopher Jackson.

During the lavish dinner, Heather Kerzner and model Saffron Aldridge movingly expressed their own personal gratitude to the Marie Curie Cancer Care nurses. Matthew Freud followed, cheekily referring to his infamous scuffle with Hugh Grant (“it’s nice to attend one of Heather’s parties and not get punched… although the night is still relatively young!”) went on to introduce ‘When I Die: Lessons from the Death Zone’, an intimate short film (below) he co-produced about his friend Philip Gould’s final days.

An auction followed, led by the charismatic Lord Harry Dalmeny, that raised over £620,000 for the Marie Curie Cancer Care. The amazing lots included an opportunity to have your portrait taken by David Bailey, a private party at Annabels, and an absolutely stunning George Pragnell Diamond Daffodil ring.  The ring, shown below, in the shape of a daffodil (the Marie Curie’s emblem) was designed by the jeweller’s grandson, Charlie Pragnell, in recognition of Marie Curie’s outstanding work.  I was allowed to wear the stunning ring, with its rare and glittering orange-yellow diamond centre for around five minutes before I was reminded I had to give it back... They were a happy five minutes. ‘My’ beautiful daffodil ring was later auctioned off for £50,000. Parting is such sweet sorrow...

Kate Moss took to the stage to model a last minute donation from Ronnie Wood; a painting of Rod Stewart by the Rolling Stone himself. The piece was auctioned off for £12,000 after Lord Harry Dalmeny managed to push the bidding past £10,000 by saying that Kate Moss wouldn’t even get out of bed for so little… Reaslising he’d got his supermodel’s mixed up (“Oh, no, that’s not you – that’s the other one!”) Kate went on to confirm that she would indeed rise from bed for less than £10,000. Damn recession.

We were later entertained by the legendary Grammy award winning R&B artist Sam Moore, who was joined on stage by Ronnie Wood in a surprise set that included 'Stay With Me' and 'Mustang Sally' (which was directed at Wood’s new girlfriend… Sally!) 

My place at the front of the stage allowed me the perfect view of Ronnie Wood’s studded Louboutin loafers, and in what must be the most glamorous mosh pit ever, I spent a good part of the evening dancing next to Kate Moss.  Just your average Tuesday night…

After a hugely fun and successful night, Heather Kerzner commented, "I am so impressed by the work of Marie Curie Cancer Care it was natural for me to lend my support. People don't like to talk about death, but we all have to face it and I wanted to help bring money and attention to this incredible charity whose nurses, like angels, bring peace to terminally ill patients and their families during this devastating time."

Below: In the Marie Curie Photo Booth with Katy Wickremesinghe and with Charlie Pragnell (wearing the stunning George Pragnell Daffodil Diamond ring he designed.)

Helena Christensen visits Kenya with Oxfam

We are all more used to seeing the supermodel and photographer Helena Christensen in the various glamorous fashion capitals around the world, but she has more recently returned from Kenya, from her third international trip as an ambassador for Oxfam.

Spending time with women from Turkana in Northern Kenya, Helena reported back on how their lives, and those of their families and neighbours, have drastically changed due to the recent climate changes and severe drought – the worst in 60 years - which has left over 13 million people at risk in the Horn of Africa.

Ahead of today's International Women’s Day, Helena described how the women are struggling to cope with unpredictable weather and sky-rocketing food prices...

“Whether or not they can provide their children with two solid meals a day is out of their control… I cannot imagine being so unsure about my son’s future and having to worry about where his next meal comes from… There is enough food in the world for everyone but one in seven people go to bed hungry every day and the majority are women and girls."


With the link between climate change and the seriously difficult lives of the women Helena met being glaringly obvious, she is now urging world leaders to take the necessary, fundamental steps towards fixing the world’s broken food system, by asking them to deliver on the money pledged for the world’s poorest countries at the Copenhagen summit two years ago, “it is shameful that some of the biggest emitters and most powerful nations, like the US, are blocking real progress that could prevent millions more people in Africa and elsewhere being driven into hunger.”

Tim Gore, head of Oxfam's climate change, added “rich countries must now deliver the money they have promised to help poor countries adapt to climate change and develop in a low carbon way. New sources of long-term finance to flow through the Green Climate Fund must be agreed as soon as possible for the sake of the world’s poorest people whose lives are already being devastated by the impacts of climate change.”

Learn more about the Global Campaign for Climate Action here

Donate to Oxfam here

Too Many Women

The totals are now in - a group of my girlfriends and I managed to raise nearly £11,000 at our 'Spring Fling' fundraiser last month, held at Guy Pelly's PUBLIC nightclub. All this money will go towards Harry Beecher's Two Many Women Campaign - raising money for Breast Cancer Research.

Thank you to all those who donated raffle prizes (which included goodies from Mulberry, Temperley, Jimmy Choo - to name but a few!) for the generous donations and for everyone who came down and helped to make it a really fun night.