PREMIER INN support centre team member Homa Bastani joined the fun and festivities at this year’s spectacular Lord Mayor’s Show parade in London on Saturday 12 November, having won a place in the show in recognition of her fundraising efforts.

Homa, from Ealing, was chosen to represent the UK’s top rated hotel on the Premier Inn float in support of Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity after being nominated by colleagues for taking part in a skydive and raising money through cake sales and raffles.

The float was designed to highlight the charitable partnership between Premier Inn and the charity and featured artwork by children from the hospital.

Premier Inn and Restaurants have raised their £7.5million target a year ahead of schedule and the money has gone towards the Premier Inn Clinical Building, a brand new, state-of-the-art centre at Great Ormond Street Hospital.

The world class facilities due to open in autumn next year, will provide more space, privacy and comfort for patients and their families. The money was raised through a combination of employee fundraising, customer donations, company match funding and corporate events.

Homa was joined on the float by patients from the hospital and fundraisers from Premier Inns across the UK as well as Eastenders and Carry On star Dame Barbara Windsor who was there at the beginning to celebrate the partnership.

The group was cheered on by a crowd of around half a million people as the procession moved through the streets of the capital.

Homa said: "It was a real honour to be selected to be part of the Premier Inn and Restaurants Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity float. The day was really fun and everyone was in great spirits knowing that we were helping to raise awareness of such an amazing charity. I’m so pleased to have personally raised £2900 for a really worthwhile cause!"

Amit Aggarwal from Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity, added: “Great Ormond Street Hospital treats children from across the UK with some of the rarest and most complex conditions.

"The money raised by Premier Inn fundraisers like Homa will help us make a real difference to patients and their families, and we were thrilled to see her recognised with a place in the Lord Mayor’s Show.

“We’d like to thank Homa and the whole team at Ealing Premier Inn for their incredible fundraising efforts.”

The UK’s oldest street party, the Lord Mayor's Show has floated, rolled, trotted, marched and occasionally fought its way through 801 years of London history, surviving the Black Death and the Blitz to arrive in the 21st century as one of the world’s best-loved pageants.

The parade featured over 7,000 participants, 20 bands, 150 horses and hundreds of other carriages, carts, coaches and vehicles.

For more information about Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity go to www.gosh.org