Inspirational artwork kicks off our 30th birthday celebrations

Unveiled by TV personality and cancer survivor Adele Roberts (pictured right), the artwork in the lake at St James’s Park, London celebrates the achievements of seven National Lottery ‘Game Changers’. Each has used National Lottery funding to change the lives of people across the UK, including military veterans, people with cancer, the elderly and young people.

The unveiling of the art installation is the first of four activities taking place across the UK to mark The National Lottery’s 30th birthday on 19th November 2024.

Images of all seven National Lottery ‘Game Changers’ appear in the artwork unveiled in St James’s Park. It was created by Luis Gomez De Teran, a Venezuelan-born artist whose work blends classical painting and contemporary street art. Luis’ images of the ‘Game Changers’ – which are printed on Perspex screens – appear to float on the water of the lake.

The seven ‘Game Changers’ featured in the artwork are:

Ed Parker MBE, founder of Walking with the Wounded.

Ed, a military veteran, founded Walking with the Wounded after his nephew (Harry Parker – pictured) lost both legs on active duty in Afghanistan. The project has helped thousands of ex-service personnel and their families find their place in society after leaving the military.

Trevor Lyttleton MBE, founder of Re-Engage (formerly Contact the Elderly).

For more than 50 years, Trevor’s charity has held tea parties to help elderly people overcome loneliness. Its motto is: “All you need is a warm heart, a warm welcome, a downstairs toilet, and a large teapot.”

Dame Laura Lee, CEO of Maggie's cancer care charity.

Maggie’s was the vision of Maggie Keswick Jencks, who lived with advanced cancer for two years. She died in 1995, but Laura, Maggie’s nurse and friend, worked with Maggie’s family to ensure her vision became a reality.

Sandra Igwe, founder of The Motherhood Group.

Sandra Igwe is a formidable advocate for Black maternal health and the visionary founder of The Motherhood Group, a social enterprise born from her personal experiences of postnatal depression and anxiety as well as racism in healthcare. It supports Black mothers through culturally competent care and community-based initiatives.

Marcus Fair, founder of Eternal Media.

Marcus was addicted to heroin and crack for 25 years and has experienced homelessness and incarceration. His Wrexham-based charity Eternal Media supports more than 700 offenders and ex-offenders by giving them opportunities in filmmaking. Not one has reoffended.

Javeno McLean, personal trainer, community champion and owner of the award-winning J7 Health Centre in North Manchester.

Celebrated for his life-changing work with disabled, sick and elderly people, Javeno’s inspirational social media videos have garnered millions of followers worldwide.

Conor Largey, Belfast Youth Worker and Empowering Young People Coordinator.

From skipping school and getting in trouble, to a life dedicated to helping young people achieve their goals and potential, Conor has earned recognition for his inspirational work with Belfast's young people.

Adele, who was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2021, has been a supporter of Maggie’s for several years. She recently met Dame Laura Lee, to discuss the importance of Maggie’s centres across the UK, which have been supported by more than £4MMillion of National Lottery funding.

Adele said, “As someone who has experienced the challenges of cancer and witnessed the incredible work of charities like Maggie’s, I am deeply honoured to support The National Lottery’s celebration of these extraordinary Community Game Changers.

“It has been moving to spend time with Laura Lee and to witness the care and dedication that goes into her work. Laura and the other Game Changers are truly inspiring, and it’s a privilege to be part of an initiative that shines a light on the positive change they bring to so many lives. The National Lottery has played a vital role in making these stories possible, and I’m proud to help celebrate their 30th birthday in such a meaningful way.”

Thanks to you, our National Lottery players, more than £30MMillion is raised every week for good causes.

Keep an eye on this page to find out more about The National Lottery’s 30th birthday celebrations and the Game Changers initiative.

17th September 2024