We are delighted to announce that we have welcomed celebrity baker and lifestyle influencer, Ruby Bhogal, into our Smile Train family as a new Ambassador.
Ruby found fame in 2018 as a contestant and finalist on Channel 4’s hugely popular competition series, the Great British Bake Off. Ruby stole the show with her bubbly personality and exceptional baking skills, swiftly becoming a favourite with fans, judges and contestants alike.
Ruby BhogalIn addition to her love for baking, Ruby is an avid traveller with both an Indian and African heritage. She is passionate about exploring the world, rediscovering her Indian and African roots, and learning new culinary skills which are inspired by ingredients from around the world. It is this passion that led her to Smile Train.
Ruby often travels to India to visit her relatives – a country where Smile Train has active cleft programmes. Through our sustainable model of empowerment, we provide local medical professionals in India, and other countries the world, with the training, funding, and resources needed to offer free cleft repair treatment and comprehensive cleft care to children in their own communities.
Eager to give something back to the community where her mother grew up, Ruby has decided to lend her support to Smile Train so that we can continue to change the lives of children in India, and all over the world, one smile at a time.
To mark her new Ambassadorship, Ruby will be supporting our favourite annual fundraising campaign – the Big Smile Tea Party – which encourages friends, families, colleagues and students all over the UK, to come together and host an internationally-themed tea party, whilst raising vital funds for children with clefts.
Funds raised through the Big Smile Tea Party will go towards 100%-free cleft programmes for children in need, giving these children the opportunity to live healthy and productive lives.
Ruby Bhogal said:
“I am absolutely thrilled to now be a part of the Smile Train family and am very much looking forward to kick-starting things off with the Big Smile Tea Party campaign.
“Every child deserves the ability to smile, and Smile Train is a fantastic organisation which works tirelessly to bring joy, happiness, good health and love to young children with clefts. I am extremely grateful to be working alongside Smile Train and hope that, together, we can continue to raise awareness and provide kids worldwide with a new lease on life.”
Complimentary fundraising kits for the Big Smile Tea Party are now available to order from our website, which contains all the essentials you need for a successful tea party – including Smile Train posters, balloons, stickers, a collection box, and recipes inspired by the countries where Smile Train has local partnerships.
The Big Smile Tea Party campaign will be running from 15th – 21st April, but you can hold one at any time. Order your fundraising pack at smiletrain.org.uk/bigsmileteaparty today!