Challenge HomeHonorary Patrons
Simon Dolby
Charity Founder
Simon Dolby FRSA was founder of Inspire Schools and the KM Charity Team. He came from a business and journalism background having served as news editor at the East Kent Gazette series in the 1990s and running a tourism business in east Kent prior to this. He currently works at Kent construction company Streetspace as Communications Manager.
Terry Waite
Honorary Patron
Terry Waite CBE was the Assistant for Anglican Communion Affairs for the then Archbishop of Canterbury, Robert Runcie, in the 1980s. As an envoy for the Church of England, he travelled to Lebanon to try to secure the release of four hostages. He was himself kidnapped and held captive from 1987 to 1991. He is president of Emmaus UK, a charity for formerly homeless people.
Phil Gallagher
Honorary Patron
Phil Gallagher is best known for playing the lead part in the CBeebies Mister Maker children's television show but he is also well known for his panto roles at Canterbury's Marlowe Theatre. Phil is an active ambassador for the charity's literacy and walk to school initiatives in Kent primary schools.
Nick Butterworth
Honorary Patron
Nick's creations include books about Percy the Park Keeper. Percy also appeared in his own animated TV series. He has written and illustrated other children's books including Thud!, The Whisperer and two books about Q Pootle 5, a space-dweller whose friends include Oopsy, Planet Dave and Tiger. Nick is a founding partner of Snapper Productions, producers of the CBeebies series Q Pootle 5.
Cheryl Baker
Honorary Patron
Singer and television presenter Cheryl Baker had a string of hits with Bucks Fizz - the group that won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1981. Her varied career has included musicals and TV work - including Celebrity Masterchef. Her career also included her own cookery series called Eggs N Baker which encouraged children to cook.
Joanna Adeyinka-Burford
Honorary Patron
Joanna has appeared as an actress in Doctors, Holby City and Little Britain, as well as working as a presenter in the UK and Australia. Since 2015, she has presented The Let's Go Club for CBeebies. She has also spent 13 years working in primary education as an expressive arts practitioner, helping improve the literacy skills of those with English as an additional language.
Ben Roddy
Honorary Patron
Actor and performer Ben trained at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art. Since graduating he has worked extensively in all areas of the profession including theatre, radio, television and film. Ben has appeared in over 100 productions in theatres UK wide and played the role of pantomime dame at the Marlowe Theatre for more than a decade.
