Broadcaster Natasha Kaplinsky has lavished praise on Camp Simcha for its work with families with seriously ill children.

Addressing the charity’s ladies’ lunch at JW3, Ms Kaplinsky highlighted Camp Simcha’s progress as it approaches its 25th anniversary. “In such a relatively short amount of time, to have such an extraordinary profile and such a reach is really quite remarkable.

“From Camp Simcha’s founder Rachely [Plancey], to the ladies’ lunch committee, the services team, the amazing family liaison officers, the big brother and sister volunteers, I have heard so much about the effect that this extraordinary charity has on so many people’s lives. I am full of admiration.

“It’s such a privilege to be in a room with such special people.”

As well as stories about her work and her most recent role as president of Barnardo’s, Ms Kaplinsky regaled guests with anecdotes about family life on her farm with a growing brood of animals, including her latest, most high maintenance, additions — two alpacas.

There was also a moving account from a founding member of the lunch committee, who spoke about her family’s sudden need for Camp Simcha’s support after her son was diagnosed with cancer.

“Over the past few years I have thoroughly enjoyed working on the ladies’ lunch committee,” she said. “Never once did I ever imagine that one day my family would need [Camp Simcha’s] services and I too would have a story to tell.

“Eight months ago, my eldest son was diagnosed with a highly aggressive and malignant type of cancer. His tumour was so large that it was inoperable. We were told he would need to undergo four cycles of chemotherapy in an attempt to shrink it. And once it was a suitable size for it to be removed, he would need a further five cycles of chemotherapy and possibly radiation therapy.

“Today I will not go into the many challenges that he and all our family faced during the gruelling sessions of chemotherapy and its horrendous side effects — and the major surgery he finally underwent.”

She instead wanted to “emphasise the vital support Camp Simcha provided our family with during our most difficult days. From my son’s ‘big brother’ Doron’s many visits, my wonderful family liaison officer Mandy, the incredible art sessions provided for my daughter with Camp Simcha art teacher Belinda, to the transport to hospital appointments — just some of the many ways in which Camp Simcha were there for our entire family.”

During the lunch, which raised more than £80,000, guests also had the opportunity to bid for a piece of graffiti art created by a teenager supported by Camp Simcha in one of her therapeutic art sessions