Caring heart of Texas
from The Daily Record - July 10th, 2001

Sharleen's secret trip to cheer up sick children

TO the world, she is Sharleen Spiteri - Texas frontwoman and a Scots singing sensation. But to the boys and girls of Scotland's children's hospice, she's plain Auntie Sharl.

And on Sunday, just hours before she went on stage in front of 50,000 fans, she could be found at Rachel House in Kinross, which cares for children blighted by illness.

Sharleen turned up to comfort grieving parents after their eight-year-old son lost his battle for life. His funeral was took place yesterday.

While Noel Gallagher downed the hard stuff and the Stereophonics enjoyed an all-night bender, Sharleen's pre-T in the Park experience consisted of an afternoon tea of cream cakes and lemonade during her secret trip to Scotland's only children's hospice.

The caring star said: "The hospice is so close to T In The Park that I made sure I could visit. Whenever I am in Scotland, I try to come here. It puts everything into perspective."

Morag Rhodes, of CHAS, praised Sharleen for taking the time to visit the hospice so close to the festival.

Morag revealed: "Some of the kids wanted to go to T In The Park and Sharleen was happy to oblige with VIP tickets.

"This week is a bit different because we have a bereaved family in the house. It's another aspect of what we do here. Sharleen knew that and was happy to come along to say hello and see as many people as she could.

"The family have lost one of their sons, Sean, who is a twin. His twin Patrick has been taken care of by the staff today.

"The family have been with us all week and will be going home in a few days, but will continue to get bereavement counselling.

"All of the children who visit Rachel House have a life-limiting condition and will die eventually.

"Some of them arrive very poorly, others can be here for a number of years and we are happy to be able to get to know them.

"The family have been under a lot of pressure and meeting Sharleen was a chance for them to relax a little.

"The mother is pregnant, so this is a really sad time for her. The new baby is due in October and she is feeling quite emotional."

Sharleen's association with the charity began in 1996. Since then, she has become a regular visitor, popping in to cheer up the children and their families.

Morag said: "She generally plays games with the children. She is so natural with the children that they love it."

Occasionally, actor Ewan McGregor joins her at the sanctuary, which Daily Record readers helped to build.

Sharleen laughed: "Ewan and I have promised we will cook dinner for the kids, so when I arrived, the kids all asked if I had come to cook for them.

"I was like, I don't think so, I'm going onstage in a few hours. But it will happen. I'm a much better cook than Ewan, so I'll do the cooking and he'll be my assistant."

WHEN Sharleen visits Rachel House, she is no longer Scotland's queen of pop, but rather auntie Sharl.

Sharleen said: "The kids know me and I don't ever stand on ceremony with them. Some of the kids are really ill and are in bed, others might be too tired to see me.

"But there are a lot of children that I have come to know in the years since I have been coming here.

"It's funny coming in because they all recognise me. They get quite excited."

Sharleen has also helped out financially, when Texas donated the pounds 100,000 proceeds from their millennium concert in Edinburgh to CHAS 19 months ago.

The money will help build a second hospice in the west of Scotland and Sharleen hopes the nation will dip into their pockets once more to help them reach their fundraising target.

Morag said: "We're getting there. We are almost halfway towards our fund- raising target."

Last night, a spokesperson for Sharleen called on the Scottish Parliament to look at ways of helping.

He said: "The work Rachel House does is wonderful, but it is a shame they have to depend on charity to continue.

"This is something that should be available as part of the nation's health provision. It should be a basic right."

During her most recent visit, Sharleen signed photographs and cheered the kids with her jokes and friendly demeanour.

Morag admitted: "That's why we decided to go ahead with the visit. It's been a tough week and this has been a little bit of light relief."


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