TWO of the world’s biggest music acts and a host of top names from the British entertainment industry are supporting a new Worcestershire charity which aims to help local children with life-limiting illnesses and their families.

Singer/songwriter sensation Ed Sheeran, who shot to fame in 2011 and has since dominated the pop charts with a string of hits, and multi award-winning rock band Coldplay are among the celebrity line-up backing the Anna Wilkinson Mockingbird Trust, based near Ombersley, Worcester.

The star-studded support also includes actress and comedienne Miranda Hart; TV presenter Claudia Winkleman; BBC radio presenter Simon Mayo, singer and TV personality Peter Andre and dancer, choreographer, theatre director and strictly Come Dancing judge Craig Revel Horwood.

They have all contributed items – including a fun self-portrait from Ed Sheeran and a signed guitar from Coldplay - to be auctioned at a grand ball near Great Witley, officially launching the charity in June.

The trust was established by Chris and Wendy Wilkinson, together with their daughters Jessica and Elizabeth, of Uphamptom, near Ombersley, in memory of their youngest daughter Anna who had an inoperable brain tumour and died aged 16 in January last year.

Anna, a pupil at the Chantry School, Martley, was diagnosed with the tumour a few days before her 15th birthday in June 2014. Despite the devastating news, this bright, fun-loving, warm-hearted, talented and determined young woman remained positive and happy as she embarked on a course of treatment.

She continued studying and arranging fun events for her family and friends. She took her GCSE exams while undergoing treatment and gained 10 A star grades. Her parents could not have been more proud.

Respecting her wishes to have as normal a life as possible - even when their lives seemed to revolve around hospital visits, tests and scans - the family became aware of a wealth of support it never knew existed.

There were activities and day trips which provided a distraction from the focus on Anna’s condition, allowing the members of this close-knit family to spend time together, laughing and having fun.

One of these events was a trip for the whole family to London’s West End to see Billy Elliot the musical. It was provided by Warwickshire-based charity Molly Olly's Wishes, which supports children with terminal or life-threatening illnesses and their families to help with their emotional wellbeing.

Following Anna’s death, the Wilkinson family decided to establish a charity in her memory and to support other children with life-limiting illnesses and their families in the way they were helped. It focuses on families in Worcestershire and is named after Anna’s favourite book – Harper Lee’s modern classic To Kill a Mockingbird.

Chris, a GP, said: “We are touched that so many people are supporting the charity we have set up as Anna’s legacy. The donations we have had for The Mockingbird Ball auction have been truly remarkable.

“Anna loved to plan parties, build up traditions and arrange special events - not for herself, but to see her friends and family having fun. Even near the end of her life, when a charity arranged a theatre trip for us, she was thinking of others. In a letter to thank them she wrote, ‘I really enjoyed seeing my family enjoying themselves and seeing them smile’.

“The Mockingbird Trust will organise trips and events to bring some joy to children and their families going through an extremely difficult time. Anna’s positivity and determination was, and continues to be, an inspiration to us all and to anyone that she met.”

The Mockingbird Ball, a black tie event, is being held at a prestigious private venue at Hillhampton, near Great Witley, on Saturday June 24.

The painting by Ed Sheeran and the Coldplay guitar will be at the ball to view. Ed Sheeran painted his fun self-portrait on canvas with the words ‘Feed Me’ across the top, while Coldplay band members each signed the beautiful cream coloured Fender Squire Affinity Electric guitar. The band has also donated VIP tickets, with the winning bidder able to choose any date and location in their current tour.

The Coldplay items are going to be auctioned at the ball itself, while the Ed Sheeran painting will be auctioned on-line, with ball attendees also bidding on their phones and the auction ending during the ball.

Bidding on the Ed Sheeran painting will begin in the middle of May. To find out more, including how to bid, visit the Mockingbird Trust website: www.TheAnnaWilkinsonMockingbirdTrust.co.uk. The other celebrity auction items include doodles and paintings.

Wendy said: “We are organising The Mockingbird Ball as a very special event that will celebrate what would have been Anna's 18th birthday, and will officially launch and raise funds for the charity.

“As well as being able to bid for the celebrity items and some amazing donated experiences, guests will also enjoy a sparkling drinks reception, two live bands and a fantastic three-course meal, all in a beautiful marquee.

“We really hope that people will get behind our new charity, either by attending the ball, sponsoring the ball or donating through our Just Giving page.” Anyone can donate to the charity by visiting https://www.justgiving.com/themockingbirdtrust.

More information, including how to buy tickets, sponsor or donate can be found on the charity’s website: www.TheAnnaWilkinsonMockingbirdTrust.co.uk or call Wendy on 07759 971356 or email tickets@themockingbirdtrust.co.uk. Businesses wishing to sponsor the ball should ring Wendy.

A number of fund-raising activities in aid of the charity have already taken place including a sponsored run by former Chantry School teacher Bob Allison, who has been working in China.

Bob has been teaching students Yangzhou High School in Jiangsu Province, China, which linked up with the Chantry in 2013 when Anna was an exchange student. He wanted to demonstrate the same strength and determination he saw in Anna by doing a sponsored run.

“I told the Yangzhou students Anna’s story and they immediately took Anna to their hearts and responded in a way that greatly exceeded my expectations,” he added. He was joined by some of the Chinese students and the run raised £9,000 for the charity.