Coleen Rooney meets with Ukrainian child victims of Putin's invasion as she opens up about her own loss
COLEEN Rooney met with Ukrainian child victims of Putin's invasion as she opened up about her own heartbreaking loss.
The I'm A Celeb star, 39, spoke about her late sister Rosie, who died in 2013 at the age of just 14.
6
6
6
6
Coleen also admitted that she thought of her four kids - Kai, 15, Klay, 12, Kit, nine, and Cass, seven - when she made the mercy dash to meet kids who had lost their home in the war.
The wife of Wayne Rooney headed to Poland to meet families who had fled their homes amid the conflict.
During this emotional trip, Coleen reflected on losing her adopted sister Rosie after a lifelong battle with the rare brain disorder Rett syndrome as she met with disabled refugee kids during a visit to a UNICEF Educational Rehabilitation School.
Coleen met fitness coach Kateryna and her seven-year-old son, Murat, who has learning difficulties.
She said: "One of the schools was for children with disabilities. And I grew up in that environment, my sister went to a school like that."
Coleen continued to the Mirror: "It was just like where they were, with music therapy, physiotherapy and all those things for the sensors. I felt so comfortable, it wasn't a shock.
"That was probably the easiest visit of my time in Poland.
"Because I've experienced that and I felt comfortable there."
Coleen also visited a Spilno Hub, in Krakow, which supports families who've fled the war.
Coleen Rooney reveals being married to Wayne is 'like being a single mum' in one of her most brutally honest interviews
She met Yuliia, her sister Olisia and Yuliia's four-year-old daughter Anastasiia.
The star admitted the experience had "opened her eyes" to the reality of war, saying: "You think it is over, it's not. These people have been hit with trauma and it's hard for them to move on."
Coleen had previously spoken about her love for Rosie in the 2023 Disney+ documentary Coleen: The Real Wagatha Christie Story.
She had described her as being the 'sister that I never thought I was going to have'.
Coleen added: 'She brought that little bit extra to the house. We fell in love with her.'
Rosie was born on February 2, 1998, and was diagnosed with Rett syndrome.
The rare genetic disorder affects brain development, resulting in severe mental and physical disability.
She was adopted by the McLoughlin family when she was two-years-old.
Sadly, Rosie died aged 14 in 2013 after a lifelong battle with the condition.
6
6
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Leader Live
40 minutes ago
- Leader Live
Coleen Rooney says Unicef support for Ukrainian families is a ‘lifeline'
The media personality recently travelled to Poland with Unicef to see how Soccer Aid donations have directly supported Ukrainian families who were forced to flee their homes. The 39-year-old said she could not 'imagine' what Ukrainian refugee families must be going through, emphasising how important it is to stand with them. She said: 'I can relate to being a mum and the first thing (you would do) in that situation is to get out of danger, to make sure that the kids are OK and we can find somewhere. 'I couldn't imagine what was going through their heads… the emotions.' While in Krakow she visited the Spilno Hub, which helps families find accommodation and offers access to a range of services such as psychosocial support and legal assistance. The Unicef-run centre has helped people such as Yuliia Karpenko, her sister Olisia and Yuliia's four-year-old daughter Anastasiia 'Nastia' who were forced to flee Ukraine with just one bag on an evacuation train. She said: 'Hearing about the lasting effect the war in Ukraine has had on Yuliia and her family will stay with me for a long time. 'Her determination to create a safe and supportive community for her family in Poland really shone through. 'Thanks to Unicef, she's been able to meet other mums, learn Polish and find work in a kitchen. 'And her daughter, Nastia, has been able to make friends with other children and spend time playing, just as any four-year-old should. 'It was a privilege meeting Yuliia and her family and to see how money raised by Soccer Aid for Unicef really is changing lives. 'Leaving their home and not knowing when they'll be able to return was so hard for them. 'But spending time at the Spilno Hub has helped them to feel safe. 'It supports families who've fled the war in Ukraine in so many ways. 'It's a very special place.' During the trip, Rooney visited the Education Rehabilitation Centre, a specialist school funded by the children's organisation which supports young people with disabilities. There she met a young autistic boy, Murat, who could not talk when they first left Ukraine and has since been able to say a few words. She said: 'It's such a calming place and the teachers there are so supportive and caring. 'Kateryna (Murat's mother) told me that the changes she's seen in Murat have been incredible. 'When they left Ukraine he wasn't able to talk but he's now started to say some words and can communicate with other children too. 'She said that when they arrived in Poland she felt hopeless but, thanks to Unicef, she can now see a future there for them.' Donations made to Soccer Aid for Unicef will be doubled this year up to £5 million thanks to the Children's Investment Fund Foundation. Rooney said: 'As a mum myself, I couldn't help but think of my own boys when I met children like Nastia and Murat. 'Seeing them smile and play despite everything they've been through was incredibly moving. 'Hearing their stories really reminded me how important it is that we stand with families who've been through so much, every child deserves a safe space to play – as a parent this is all you want for your child.' To donate to Soccer Aid for Unicef and support children around the world, visit
Rhyl Journal
41 minutes ago
- Rhyl Journal
Coleen Rooney says Unicef support for Ukrainian families is a ‘lifeline'
The media personality recently travelled to Poland with Unicef to see how Soccer Aid donations have directly supported Ukrainian families who were forced to flee their homes. The 39-year-old said she could not 'imagine' what Ukrainian refugee families must be going through, emphasising how important it is to stand with them. She said: 'I can relate to being a mum and the first thing (you would do) in that situation is to get out of danger, to make sure that the kids are OK and we can find somewhere. 'I couldn't imagine what was going through their heads… the emotions.' While in Krakow she visited the Spilno Hub, which helps families find accommodation and offers access to a range of services such as psychosocial support and legal assistance. The Unicef-run centre has helped people such as Yuliia Karpenko, her sister Olisia and Yuliia's four-year-old daughter Anastasiia 'Nastia' who were forced to flee Ukraine with just one bag on an evacuation train. She said: 'Hearing about the lasting effect the war in Ukraine has had on Yuliia and her family will stay with me for a long time. 'Her determination to create a safe and supportive community for her family in Poland really shone through. 'Thanks to Unicef, she's been able to meet other mums, learn Polish and find work in a kitchen. 'And her daughter, Nastia, has been able to make friends with other children and spend time playing, just as any four-year-old should. 'It was a privilege meeting Yuliia and her family and to see how money raised by Soccer Aid for Unicef really is changing lives. 'Leaving their home and not knowing when they'll be able to return was so hard for them. 'But spending time at the Spilno Hub has helped them to feel safe. 'It supports families who've fled the war in Ukraine in so many ways. 'It's a very special place.' During the trip, Rooney visited the Education Rehabilitation Centre, a specialist school funded by the children's organisation which supports young people with disabilities. There she met a young autistic boy, Murat, who could not talk when they first left Ukraine and has since been able to say a few words. She said: 'It's such a calming place and the teachers there are so supportive and caring. 'Kateryna (Murat's mother) told me that the changes she's seen in Murat have been incredible. 'When they left Ukraine he wasn't able to talk but he's now started to say some words and can communicate with other children too. 'She said that when they arrived in Poland she felt hopeless but, thanks to Unicef, she can now see a future there for them.' Donations made to Soccer Aid for Unicef will be doubled this year up to £5 million thanks to the Children's Investment Fund Foundation. Rooney said: 'As a mum myself, I couldn't help but think of my own boys when I met children like Nastia and Murat. 'Seeing them smile and play despite everything they've been through was incredibly moving. 'Hearing their stories really reminded me how important it is that we stand with families who've been through so much, every child deserves a safe space to play – as a parent this is all you want for your child.' To donate to Soccer Aid for Unicef and support children around the world, visit
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Emma Watson looks casually chic in a brown leather jacket and baggy jeans as she enjoys low key outing in Paris
Emma Watson looked effortlessly chic as she enjoyed a low key outing in Paris on Sunday. The actress, 35, showed off her sense of style in a brown leather jacket and baggy jeans as she stepped out. She added a cap and scarf and had on a pair of headphones while getting some fresh air in the French capital. Emma wore a pair of giant dark shades and added a preppy edge to her look with a white jumper. She pulled her brunette tresses back and opted for minimal makeup to highlight her natural beauty. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the Daily Mail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Emma's outing comes after her dad warned the parents of the new Harry, Ron and Hermione of the 'impact of fame on children' as filming for the HBO Harry Potter TV series begins. The latest leading trio were finally announced this week after months of speculation - with Dominic McLaughlin landing the title role, while Arabella Stanton is set to play Hermione Granger and Alastair Stout will portray Ron Weasley. Emma played Hermione for ten years in the Harry Potter film series, and now her dad Chris has told of how he worked hard to keep her 'grounded.' He told Times Radio: 'As a parent, you have to be scared... This can be a very difficult thing for a parent and child to handle, or not. 'It certainly helped that I don't actually watch movies, it's not a big thing in the house, and so it was easier for us to keep her feet on the ground.' He added: 'Normal life continued as far as possible: her homework would go back to school on motorbikes, admittedly, but she had to do her homework and check in.' Filming for the new HBO series started this week in France with cast and crew setting up on the Île de Sein off the coast of Brittany where they are thought to be re-creating the famous moment that Hagrid said, 'You're a wizard Harry!' JK Rowling gave her approval to the trio cast as the new child stars of the multi-million-pound TV adaptation - after previously giving short shrift to racists complaining about producers' picks. There has been some online backlash against what has been branded ' woke ' reinterpreting of the wizarding franchise based on the seven bestselling books by Rowling, 59, which prompted eight movie versions. But the multi-millionaire author yesterday gave her first public response to the new Harry Potter television casting announcement, with showbusiness insiders suggesting she would have a key role in the new productions. One fan took to X, formerly known as Twitter, asking the bestselling author to inform the new recruits the wizarding franchise's creator felt about their casting. And Rowling responded by declaring: 'All three are wonderful. I couldn't be happier.' The writer was replying to a tweet which said: '@jk_rowling @streamonmax @harrypotter Please tell Dominic, Arabella and Alistair that they are already loved by the fandom and we can't wait to see the show! We wish them all the best and that they have a magic time.' The new adaptation will be spread across seven seasons, equal to the number of books - although there were eight films with the final Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows split into two parts. The HBO TV show is said to be costing £75million per episode - and the three child actors taking the lead roles have been tipped to land themselves even bigger fortunes than the original stars. Producers Francesca Gardiner and Mark Mylod praised the 'wonderful' talent of the three newcomers when making Tuesday's casting announcement. They said: 'After an extraordinary search led by casting directors Lucy Bevan and Emily Brockmann, we are delighted to announce we have found our Harry, Hermione, and Ron. 'The talent of these three unique actors is wonderful to behold, and we cannot wait for the world to witness their magic together onscreen. 'We would like to thank all the tens of thousands of children who auditioned. It's been a real pleasure to discover the plethora of young talent out there.' Rowling released the first Harry Potter novel Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone in 1997, followed by Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets the following year. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban was released in 1999, followed by Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire in 2000. Three years later Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix was published and Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince in 2005. The final book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows was released in 2007. The first movie was released in 2001 and the final one came out in 2011. They played their roles for a decade.
