I received a text message from my Dad on Friday, which said, “How was your day of meeting the stars?” and thought rather than replying to him, I would share my answer with all of you.

It is not everyday that you get to meet one of the World’s most famous superstars ever.

Friday, on the other hand, was not just an ‘everyday’ kind of day.

Friday was the day that I met Louis Tomlinson from One Direction. Friday was the day that everyone came together to help to raise awareness about children with encephalitis and the subsequent acquired brain injuries that occur. Friday was the day of The Eden Dora Trust afternoon tea.

It started just like any other day really. I awakened, washed and (after trying on outfit after outfit) finally dressed. One part of the day that may have lead it to be a little different from my average day was waking up in my ex-boyfriend’s parent’s house, where I was spending the weekend; other than that, nothing untoward had occurred.

Trying to sleep on the Thursday night had not gone well. Even after taking my sleeping tablets and laboriously counting sheep, nothing could stop my brain buzzing around, contemplating how the following day’s events would unfold.

So we arrived in Sheffield, jumped in a black cab and made our way to Whirlowbrook Hall. As we made our way up the driveway a gaggle of girls came into sight. These ‘directioners’ had been standing outside in the cold for God knows how long, expectantly waiting to clasp their eyes on their heartthrob Louis.

As I arrived in the hall I was overcome with the amount of time and effort that had gone into setting up the event. And then, probably the most handsome chap I have ever had the pleasure of laying my eyes on entered the room. No, this was not Louis; this was Freddie Flintoff. Every person there of the female variety was struggling not to stare. Throughout the day his charismas shone through, bringing a sense of fun to the day and a cheeky smile to boot.

Shortly after, the man of the moment joined us. Louis sat next to Eden herself, pouring tea and eating finger sandwiches, as though this sort of thing was a daily occurrence. Perhaps it was for him, but not for us.

So my day of meeting the stars was not exactly what I had expected.

I got the butterflies that go with meeting someone famous. I got the screaming girls outside, waiting for hours in the cold. I got the warm fuzzy feeling of everyone coming together to celebrate such an amazing charity. I was able to chat to other supporters, some that I had met before, and others that I had the pleasure of meeting for the first time. It was so special to share the day with so many inspirational people.

But what I had not expected was how I would feel about seeing what Petrina has managed to achieve. I have never experienced anything like it.

It goes without saying that the event ran as smoothly as a baby’s bottom, but what I did not comprehend was the amount of love that could fill a room. For this, I would like to thank Freddie and Louis from the bottom of my heart and all the sponsors and supporters.

But really, I think we can all agree that the true stars of the show were Eden and Petrina. Without them, none of this would have happened. Without them, so many children with encephalitis would still not be receiving the support they need. Without them there would be no Eden Dora Trust.

Here is a little video from the day…The Eden Dora Trust Afternoon Tea

And here are some photos from the day: