Charity founder’s nephew continues to Spread a Smile for sick children

After Aaron Maurice spent five long months confined to a hospital ward at nine years old after being diagnosed with lymphoma, his aunt, feeling “helpless”, arranged for a magician to visit him in hospital.

That visit proved to be a “light in a very dark time” for Aaron, who spent his tenth birthday on an oncology ward.

It was also the inspiration for the creation of Spread a Smile, a charity founded in 2013 by his aunt, Josephine Segal, and her friend, Vanessa Crocker, which now brings professional entertainment to children in hospital with serious and life-threatening illnesses.

Aaron, who is now 22, told the JC: “My emotions during those long months came in peaks and troughs, as they were spurred on by a combination of being bedbound and the boredom that comes with that. That level of boredom can drive you to quite dark places, simply because there’s nothing else to think about. Professional entertainment in those moments is quite powerful, providing, quite simply, a distraction from what’s going on.”

Aaron Maurice speaking at a Spread A Smile gala dinner (Photo: Spread a Smile)[Missing Credit]

Aaron, who grew up in Hampstead Garden Suburb in north-west London and is a member of Norrice Lea Synagogue, has recently become one of two young ambassadors for Spread a Smile.

The charity has nearly 100 total entertainers – which include everything from singers, magicians and artists to balloon modelers and therapy dogs – carrying out scheduled visits to 43 NHS hospitals and hospices, with plans to increase that number to 45 by the end of the financial year.

Each entertainer, who is always accompanied by a charity visit manager, is selected on the basis of the child’s interests and age, which could be anything from several months to 18.

Between 2024 and 2025, the charity expects to deliver over 13,200 in-person bedside visits and over 2,600 virtual visits.

Aaron’s volunteering with the charity predates his appointment as an ambassador, having helped out with gift packages for patients, organising and attending parties, and assisting with outings such as golf days and trips to the theatre for the patients and their families – including two trips a year to see a West End performance of The Lion King.

A Spread a Smile entertainer with a patient (Photo: Paul Meyler)[Missing Credit]

The other young ambassador is 21-year-old Varun Shradhanand Mahatme, who was also an early recipient of Spread a Smile entertainment while he was undergoing treatment at the age of 11 for stage 4 bone cancer in the spine. “He’s a really, really lovely guy,” Aaron said. “He comes from a similar situation and, like me, shared in the transformative experience that was entertainment in a dark time. Now, both of us want to give back.”

The responsibilities of the newly created roles will include speaking at events and explaining the benefits of the charity from the perspective of someone who knows what it is like being a child confined to a hospital bed with a life-threatening illness.

The ambassadors will also raise awareness and funds for Spread a Smile and support the team’s work as media spokespeople, meeting with donors, advising on ideas, plans and developments for its future.

Josephine Segal MBE with a Spread a Smile dog Buddy[Missing Credit]

Josephine said the idea of providing her nephew with a magician all those years ago arose out of a feeling of “helplessness”.

“Often, entertainers do what guardians and parents can’t do, bringing experiences that can last a lifetime. Part of why Spread a Smile works so well is because our amazing team, which, while small, is so hard working and united in our purpose.

“We’re so excited that Aaron and Varun, who are both so courageous and inspiring to us, have become ambassadors, ensuring that children, who, like they did, spend long, isolated days in hospital wards, are uplifted.”