Latest news with #GlobalDevelopmentalDelay
Sky News
31-01-2025
- Entertainment
- Sky News
Traitors' Alexander Dragonetti opens up about his brother's story as he reveals whether he is 'friends' with fellow contestants
The Traitors finalist Alexander Dragonetti has inspired people to donate more than £70,000 to a charity after he spoke about his brother's story on the show. In an interview on The UK Tonight With Sarah-Jane Mee, Mr Dragonetti said more than £70,000 had been raised for Mencap, an organisation supporting people with learning disabilities. "The response has been fantastic. Anybody who supports or raises awareness on what to me is an incredibly important topic, I'm so incredibly grateful. The response has been fantastic." The former British diplomat opened up about how his late brother, who had Global Developmental Delay and autism, saying for a week a year his brother would go to a summer camp where he also volunteered to help other children. The 38-year-old described how his brother would be "the centre of attention", adding: "Everyone would flock around and he had this energy where he just drew people to him. And he was also slightly cooler than I was. I just stood there and waved, bathed in his reflected glory. It was such fun for him." Mr Dragonetti said his brother, who died aged 17, would have been really excited to see him appear on TV as part of the BBC show. He said while it is "fantastic having special needs children" it can also be "really challenging", adding: "Often parents don't have much of a voice. And if I can create or help to create that voice for parents to help get them the support they need, that would be probably my most proud outcome from the show." 'I was actually texting Leanne during the final episode' Mr Dragonetti did not win the latest series of The Traitors. He lost to project manager Jake Brown and former soldier Leanne Quigley, who won the £94,600 prize pot. But after a tense finale, is he still friends with his fellow contestants? "We actually are all friends now," he revealed. "I was actually texting Leanne during the final episode, saying 'I'm so sorry to have accused you,' and she was texting me saying, 'Oh my God, I got it so wrong.' "So we've actually become really close since the end of that. And it's been really nice to get to know each other in a slightly less pressurised way."
Yahoo
28-01-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
The Traitors star Alexander Dragonetti inspires thousands of donations to Mencap charity
The Traitors finalist Alexander Dragonetti has inspired more than £30,000 in charity donations after opening up about his late brother's learning disabilities on the show. Mr Dragonetti told fellow contestants during the BBC show's final that he would be donate some of the prize money to Mencap, an organisation that supports people with learning disabilities, if he won. The former British diplomat said his late brother, who had Global Developmental Delay and autism, used to go to summer camps set up by the organisation, and that he would "love to put some money their way to keep it going". The 38-year-old failed to win the series, losing out to project manager Jake Brown and former soldier Leanne Quigley for the £94,600 prize pot. But Mencap says he has inspired more than 2,000 people to make donations since the final, raising £31,000. Mencap's chief executive Jon Sparkes said the charity was "really grateful to Alexander for courageously sharing his personal story". He added: "Despite not winning on Friday night Alexander remained faithful to the end and captured the hearts of the nation - he is our champion! "Telling his story has inspired a tremendous wave of generosity from the public. Their overwhelming support for Mencap has been incredible, with generous donations around £30,000. "These donations are needed more now than ever as people with a learning disability continue to face extensive inequalities every day. Read more: "We know that when the experiences of people with a learning disability, and their loved ones, are represented in the media, it helps to change attitudes and make our society more inclusive," Mr Sparkes added. "We loved watching Alexander's journey throughout the show and want to thank him for all that he's done." 'This way, you still win' The charity also shared some comments from anonymous donors inspired by the contestant. One read: "My son is non verbal autistic and severe learning difficulties. I have a monthly donation but this one is for Alexander, it's what you wanted and this way, you still win. National treasure." "I have always had family friends with learning disabilities but it was Alexander from the traitors that inspired me to donate," another read. Another donator wrote: "I'm the parent of a child with learning disabilities who will need care in the future and I worry about his future when I'm gone every day. "I also was moved by Alexander's story on the traitors and wanted to donate to his cause even though he hadn't won."
Sky News
28-01-2025
- Entertainment
- Sky News
The Traitors star Alexander Dragonetti inspires thousands of donations to Mencap charity
The Traitors finalist Alexander Dragonetti has inspired more than £30,000 in charity donations after opening up about his late brother's learning disabilities on the show. Mr Dragonetti told fellow contestants during the BBC show's final that he would be donate some of the prize money to Mencap, an organisation that supports people with learning disabilities, if he won. The former British diplomat said his late brother, who had Global Developmental Delay and autism, used to go to summer camps set up by the organisation, and that he would "love to put some money their way to keep it going". The 38-year-old failed to win the series, losing out to project manager Jake Brown and former soldier Leanne Quigley for the £94,600 prize pot. But Mencap says he has inspired more than 2,000 people to make donations since the final, raising £31,000. Mencap's chief executive Jon Sparkes said the charity was "really grateful to Alexander for courageously sharing his personal story". He added: "Despite not winning on Friday night Alexander remained faithful to the end and captured the hearts of the nation - he is our champion! "Telling his story has inspired a tremendous wave of generosity from the public. Their overwhelming support for Mencap has been incredible, with generous donations around £30,000. "These donations are needed more now than ever as people with a learning disability continue to face extensive inequalities every day. "We know that when the experiences of people with a learning disability, and their loved ones, are represented in the media, it helps to change attitudes and make our society more inclusive," Mr Sparkes added. "We loved watching Alexander's journey throughout the show and want to thank him for all that he's done." 'This way, you still win' The charity also shared some comments from anonymous donors inspired by the contestant. One read: "My son is non verbal autistic and severe learning difficulties. I have a monthly donation but this one is for Alexander, it's what you wanted and this way, you still win. National treasure." "I have always had family friends with learning disabilities but it was Alexander from the traitors that inspired me to donate," another read. Another donator wrote: "I'm the parent of a child with learning disabilities who will need care in the future and I worry about his future when I'm gone every day.
