Starlight Children’s Foundation is proud to announce that actor Rupert Grint has become an Ambassador for the charity, which grants wishes for seriously and terminally ill children and provides entertainment in hospitals and hospices across the UK.

Best known for his starring role as Ron Weasley in the Harry Potter series, most recently Rupert was treading the boards in the revival of West End hit, Mojo. During the play’s run at The Harold Pinter Theatre, Rupert was able to attend Starlight’s annual Children’s Christmas Party at No 11 Downing Street, which was hosted for the charity by Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rt Hon George Osborne MP, in December last year.

During the party, Rupert helped to make the dearest wish of one of his young fans, 9 year old Callum Wilson [photographed above], come true. Callum, who comes from Falkirk, suffers from a serious condition called neurofibromatosis, which causes tumours to grow along his nerves. As a result of his illness, Callum has to spend lots of time in hospital but his love of Harry Potter and his favourite character, Ron Weasley, helps to cheer him up during the long months of treatment.

Meeting Rupert was truly a dream come true for Callum. The actor made sure that he had come prepared for the special meeting with Callum, bringing chocolate frogs, a broomstick, Gryffindor robes and mounds of Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans for the brave Harry Potter fan! After spending some time with Callum chatting about Harry Potter, Rupert then met some of the other young guests at the party and their families.

This was not the first wish that Rupert has granted for Starlight and he hopes that, in his role as Ambassador, he will be able to do plenty more to help the charity.

Rupert commented, “It was a great pleasure to help Starlight grant Callum’s wish before Christmas and I really look forward to doing more to support this wonderful charity. I have seen first hand just how much of an impact a Starlight Wish can have on a seriously ill child – it really makes a huge difference to them and their family – so I am delighted to become a Starlight Ambassador.

Neil Swan, Chief Executive of Starlight Children’s Foundation, added, “We are thrilled to welcome Rupert on board as an Ambassador. With his experience of Starlight’s work, popularity with young children and families, great sense of fun and charm, Rupert is perfect for Starlight and we are very excited about working with him.”