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Daily Record
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Coleen Rooney makes mercy dash to help child victims of Putin's 'evil' war in Ukraine
Coleen Rooney said she was inspired by her four boys and adopted sister, Rosie. Coleen Rooney has spoken candidly about her recent mercy dash to Poland, where she met children deeply affected by Vladimir Putin's merciless conflict in Ukraine. The dedicated mother of four recalled how her own sons – Kai, 15, Klay, 12, Kit, nine, and Cass, seven – motivated her journey to assist families uprooted by the burgeoning war. While visiting Poland to show solidarity with those who have escaped their besieged homes, Coleen, also known for her stint on 'I'm A Celebrity...', reflected on her late adopted sister, Rosie, who passed away at 14 in 2013 following a battle with Rett syndrome, particularly when meeting disabled refugee children. This war has led to an exodus into Poland comparable to the mass displacements of World War Two. Coleen's poignant trip included a stop at a UNICEF Educational Rehabilitation School where she encountered fitness coach Kateryna and her son Murat, aged seven, who struggles with learning disabilities and non-verbality. The pair had embarked on an arduous journey of almost 700 miles from Nikolayev, central to Volodymyr Zelenskyy's stand against Putin's harsh regime, finally finding sanctuary in Krakow. Revealing her emotions to the Mirror, Coleen expressed her heartfelt solidarity with the displaced mothers: "As a mum, your first thought was what would you do? What goes through your mind is just to protect the children and make sure that they are OK. And that's exactly what these mum's were doing, they got out of Ukraine." Coleen, 39, has told of her emotional visit to meet Ukrainian mothers and children who have fled the war-torn country. The WAG spoke to one mother, Kateryna, whose home was hit by a tank. "She showed me videos of what was happening and that resonates with you, because of that protective instinct," Coleen said. "I can relate to being a mum and the first thing in that situation is to get out of danger, to just make sure the kids are OK. But I couldn't imagine what was going through their heads, the emotions." The TV personality visited a UNICEF centre for disabled children, which brought back memories of her late sister Rosie, who had a disability. "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 explained. "It was just like where they were, with music therapy, physiotherapy and all those things for the senses. 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, providing psycho-social support to help them deal with the horrors of war. She met Yuliia, her sister Olisia and Yuliia's daughter Anastasiia – known as Nastia, aged four. They have been in Krakow for three years, travelling from Kryvvi Rih on an evacuation train carrying just a backpack each. As they fled they turned their phones off to help them go undetected by missiles. Coleen has told how the trip helped "open her eyes" to the reality of war and the devastating impact it has. Coleen said: "I wouldn't say it's affected me, but it's given me a big insight into what's going on around the world and the aftermath. You know, you think it is over, it's not. These people have been hit with trauma and it's hard for them to move on. "They're doing what they can but it could affect them for their entire lives. That's what struck me, we see things on the news, but we don't think that much into it. It was a real eye opener to see the disruption to people's lives." She went on: "It's quite a humbling thing to see. But I think the great thing is that despite the tragedies there are people that are willing to go above and beyond for people out there." Despite the harrowing trauma suffered by children during the conflict, Coleen said the mental care they were receiving was paying dividends. "There was one place we visited and what really stuck with me was, they showed me all the artwork the children had done when they had initially arrived from Ukraine," she recounted. "There were lots of dark colours and it was really quite moody and it was quite upsetting to see. But after being there for a while they clearly lifted and the artwork was full of lots of colour. The children have been receiving therapy and it shows that it really works." During her visit to Krakow with UNICEF, Coleen observed the remarkable transformation in refugee children's art as a result of therapy funded by donations to Soccer Aid. Her husband and football legend Wayne Rooney is set to feature as a player-manager in the charity match alongside stars such as comedian Paddy McGuinness, Olympic icon Sir Mo Farah, and One Direction's Louis Tomlinson. "Soccer Aid is a big part of our family, it's been a yearly thing in the calendar for the last, I don't know how many years," Coleen added. "And my boys love attending and Wayne obviously is involved so we're looking forward to seeing him. And then my youngest Cass is going to be one of the mascots, so it's a real family affair." The much-anticipated Soccer Aid for UNICEF 2025 is scheduled to occur on Sunday June 15 at Old Trafford, with exclusive live coverage on ITV1, ITVX, STV, and STV Player. Supporters who wish to contribute to Soccer Aid for UNICEF, which raised a staggering £15million last year, can make their donations by visiting Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community!
Scottish Sun
3 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Coleen Rooney meets with Ukrainian child victims of Putin's invasion as she opens up about her own loss
BIGGEST LOSS 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 Coleen Rooney met with Ukrainian child victims of Putin's invasion Credit: PA 6 Her late sister Rosie died in 2013 at the age of just 14 Credit: Instagram 6 The I'm A Celeb star opened up about her own heartbreaking loss Credit: PA 6 Coleen headed to Poland to meet families who fled their home amid the war Credit: PA 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. 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 Coleen visited a UNICEF Educational Rehabilitation School Credit: PA
The Sun
3 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
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
The Irish Sun
3 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
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 Coleen Rooney met with Ukrainian child victims of Putin's invasion Credit: PA 6 Her late sister Rosie died in 2013 at the age of just 14 Credit: Instagram 6 The I'm A Celeb star opened up about her own heartbreaking loss Credit: PA 6 Coleen headed to Poland to meet families who fled their home amid the war Credit: PA 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." Most read in Showbiz Coleen also visited a Spilno Hub, in Krakow, which supports families who've fled the war. 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 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.' The rare genetic disorder affects brain development, resulting in severe mental and physical disability. Read more on the Irish Sun She was adopted by the McLoughlin family when she was two-years-old. Sadly, in 2013 after a lifelong battle with the condition. 6 Coleen visited a UNICEF Educational Rehabilitation School Credit: PA 6 Coleen reflected on losing her adopted sister Rosie after a lifelong battle Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
Daily Mirror
3 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Coleen Rooney's mercy mission to meet Ukrainian child victims of Putin's war
Devoted Coleen has told how her four boys inspired her to meet with displaced families suffering because of the years-long Russian invasion Coleen Rooney today revealed she thought of her children as she made a mercy dash to meet bombed-out kids left devastated by Vladmir Putin 's bloodthirsty war in Ukraine. The devoted mum, 39, told how she was inspired by her four boys - Kai, 15, Klay, 12, Kit, nine, and Cass, seven - as she jetted into Poland to meet families who fled their homes as the conflict erupted. And the former I'm A Celebrity... star, 39, revealed she thought of her adopted sister, Rosie, who died aged 14 in 2013 after a lifelong battle with Rett syndrome, as she met disabled refugee kids. The war in Ukraine has displaced families at a scale and speed not seen since World War Two. Almost nine million people have fled into Poland since Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24 2022. And during a trip to a UNICEF Educational Rehabilitation School, Coleen met fitness coach Kateryna and her seven-year-old son, Murat, who has learning difficulties and is unable to speak. They fled Nikolayev - the frontline of Volodymyr Zelenskyy defense against Putin's brutal regime - and made a two-day bus trip of nearly 700 miles to find safety in Krakow. Speaking exclusively to the Mirror about her encounter with stricken mothers forced from their homes, Coleen said: "As a mum, your first thought was what would you do? What goes through your mind is just to protect the children and make sure that they are OK. And that's exactly what these mum's were doing, they got out of Ukraine. "I spoke to one lovely mum, Kateryna, who said a tank blew up outside her house. They had their son behind double walls in the house so that if anything hit the house, they were protected by the outer wall." "She showed me videos of what was happening and that resonates with you, because of that protective instinct." She added: "I can relate to being a mum and the first thing in that situation is to get out of danger, to just make sure the kids are OK. But I couldn't imagine what was going through their heads, the emotions." Almost 1.6 million refugees are in Poland and around 90 per cent of them are women and children. Exclusive footage given to the Mirror shows children swarming over Coleen as she met children at a UNICEF centre catering for disabled youngsters. And today Coleen, who tied the knot with football legend Wayne Rooney, 39, in 2008, told how the trip evoked memories of her beloved younger sister, Rosie. Coleen 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. "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, providing psycho-social support to help them deal with the horrors of war. She met Yuliia, her sister Olisia and Yuliia's daughter Anastasiia – known as Nastia, aged four. They have been in Krakow for three years, travelling from Kryvvi Rih on an evacuation train carrying just a backpack each. As they fled they turned their phones off to help them go undetected by missiles. Now Coleen has told how the trip helped "open her eyes" to the reality of war and the devastating impact it has. Coleen said: "I wouldn't say it's affected me, but it's given me a big insight into what's going on around the world and the aftermath. You know, you think it is over, it's not. These people have been hit with trauma and it's hard for them to move on. "They're doing what they can but it could affect them for their entire lives. That's what struck me, we see things on the news, but we don't think that much into it." "It was a real eye opener to see the disruption to people's lives." She added: "It's quite a humbling thing to see. "But I think the great thing is that despite the tragedies there are people that are willing to go above and beyond for people out there." But despite the harrowing trauma suffered by children during the conflict, Coleen said the mental care they were receiving was paying dividends. She added: "There was one place we visited and what really stuck with me was, they showed me all the artwork the children had done when they had initially arrived from Ukraine. "There were lots of dark colours and it was really quite moody and it was quite upsetting to see. But after being there for a while they clearly lifted and the artwork was full of lots of colour. The children have been receiving therapy and it shows that it really works." Coleen visited Krakow with UNICEF to see how donations to the Soccer Aid charity game support refugee children. Husband and ex-Man United and England legend Wayne is taking on a player-manager role alongside the likes of comedian Paddy McGuinness, Olympic hero Sir Mo Farah and One Direction star Louis Tomlinson. Coleen said: "Soccer Aid is a big part of our family, it's been a yearly thing in the calendar for the last, I don't know how many years. And my boys love attending and Wayne obviously is involved so we're looking forward to seeing him. And then my youngest Cass is going to be one of the mascots, so it's a real family affair." Soccer Aid for UNICEF 2025 will take place on Sunday June 15 at Old Trafford, and will be shown live exclusively on ITV1, ITVX, STV and STV Player.
