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Published: Wednesday 19 Nov 2008
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LAUNCH DAY – 12TH NOVEMBER 2008

Wednesday the 12th November started early – 6 am to be precise. Early enough to question one’s own sanity in wishing to air the streets whilst more sensible mortals are still tucked under their duvets!

But as the circulation began to course the veins, leading to the warmest of welcomes from Sian and Bill on BBC 1 Breakfast News, life began to take a different turn. The BEEB, Mark’s second home, provided once again the perfect platform from which to launch the Foundation. And what a public response we received to the interview! Love and affection for Mark and his communication skills poured out in a torrent. Volunteers, prospective Regional Coordinators suddenly appeared from out of the UK woodwork in abundance. 3,500 hits on the website! 200 emails received! I was moved by this reaction!

But the day only got better. Martin Murphy, the Foundation’s newly appointed London Coordinator, set the scene by booking the 20th Century Theatre in Notting Hill, London as the venue for the successful launch of the Foundation. Martin is an architect by profession, and like all of us he is trying to earn a living in a property climate bedevilled by the universal credit crunch. To say that he had organised events beautifully would be an understatement. Quite simply, his efforts were herculean. Children from schoolos in Hounslow and Shepherd's Bush appeared with their teachers. Their artistic skills were displayed on the walls, a visual evidence of the formidable array of talent lying unrecognized today - but typical of the standard which the Foundation will unearth throughout the UK – but only with your help!

We displayed the BBC’s CD montage of Mark’s Smart programme outtakes and of which the whole assembly roared approval. The children were presented with SP8 of the Art T shirts plus autographed photographs of Mark, together with an illustrated service sheet of the Memorial Celebration of his life held in August at the Actors’ Church in Covent Garden. As I began to address the assembly it resembled a family gathering. A joyous occasion from which all of us have taken inspiration and share a common determination to spread the message of the Foundation to children in all corners on the UK.

I was initially proud to see that all walks of life were represented at the launch. This Foundation knows no boundaries, no racial prejudice and with equal opportunity for the able and disabled. Mark’s Foundation’s door will always be open. How impressed I was to note the extraordinary efforts that individuals had made to travel to the launch at their own individual cost - particularly our newly appointed Northern Ireland Regional Coordinator Louise McLean and her friend, Hannah.

The press were quick to follow the success of the day and interviews were held with the Press Association and the Express and Star, a Midland’s evening paper. The London Evening Standard gave us a half page coverage that evening together with an appropriate photograph of the children. Only yesterday did I give a fuller full length interview to the London Evening Standard which will appear in print later this week.

Since that eventful and memorable day, the Foundation has been approached by major Banks (yes Banks!), private organisations and the Arts Council. We are also in the throes of appointing future Regional Coordinators and volunteers to assist! No stone will be left unturned. We will rattle the cages of politicians and public figures until they respond and recognize that their future voters are the very children of this Foundation and its future generations which we are going to support artistically. So let’s look after their best interests today!

This is the Children’s Foundation! For the children and by the children. Let us all embrace this once in a lifetime opportunity with enthusiasm, with joy, and with skill. As I said in the Daily Mail recently, remember they can’t argue with a smile! That way we will overcome all resistance!

May I thank everyone for the affection and support which I have personally experienced. My commitment is total to this exceptional charity and in particular to all of you seeking to participate with us on this adventurous and most beautiful of journeys.

Oliver’s next blog will deal with the Foundation’s structure and art competition matters. The aims and targets will also be clarified and a progress report included.