April 2026 – Arsenal F.C. Midfielder, Kai Havertz, made dreams come true for two families supported by Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice in Barnet. Through The Kai Havertz Foundation, the families received VIP treatment in Kai’s private hospitality box at The Emirates Stadium to watch Arsenal F.C. play Newcastle United F.C on the 25th April 2026.
Destiny Rae Ojejimi, aged 7, attended with her mum Maria Ojejimi, from Islington. Destiny Rae had kidney disease and had a successful transplant in 2024. The family have been supported by Noah’s Ark since 2018 and have a Home Support Volunteer, a Family Link Worker and also access the hospice’s events and activities.
Also in attendance was David Luka, from Barnet, and his two children, Lara Luka, aged 18, and Samuel Luka, aged 15. Samuel has Anaplastic large-cell lymphoma (ALCL) which is a rare, fast-growing type of Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, has received chemotherapy and is now in remission. The family have a Family Link Worker and access Noah’s Ark’s activities and events. Both families are huge Arsenal F.C. fans so were over the moon to get to go on the pitch to meet Kai after the game.
Kai Havertz and his wife, Sophia, are proud, long-term supporters of Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice, helping to create memorable matchday experiences for children and families. They have also made several visits to The Ark, where they have spent time with children living with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions, along with their families. Through their foundation, which recently celebrated its third anniversary, the couple recently donated €35,000 to support the hospice’s vital care and services.
Cerys Dawson, Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice’s Senior Corporate Partnerships Officer said: “We are extremely proud of our partnership with The Kai Havertz Foundation and the shared purpose at its heart. For the children and families we support, experiences like these are about much more than a day out, they create lasting memories, moments of joy, and a welcome sense of normality. This kind of support helps families spend meaningful time together away from the challenges they face, and we’re incredibly grateful to be able to share these opportunities with them.”
Kai Havertz said: “Football has given me so much and being able to share that with these two incredible families means the world to us. Seeing the kids light up at the Emirates Stadium, knowing what they’ve been through, that stays with you. Noah’s Ark gives these families hope and togetherness and Sophia and I will keep supporting that for as long as we can through my Foundation.”
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About Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice: Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice helps babies, children, and young people with life-shortening or life-threatening conditions, and their families, make the most of every day. The charity supports those who die young to do so in as much comfort as possible and by providing exceptional care, organising fun activities and days out, helps families do things they never thought possible. Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice helps those they support to enjoy life as children, rather than patients, as families, rather than carers.
Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice is based in Barnet and welcomes the referrals of babies, children, and young people who meet their acceptance criteria and who live in the London Boroughs of Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Haringey and Islington, and Hertsmere in Hertfordshire. Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice’s costs are currently over £7m per annum to provide essential services to babies, children and young people who are seriously unwell and their families.
About The Kai Havertz Foundation
The Kai Havertz Foundation is a charitable foundation based in Aachen, Germany, founded by Kai Havertz in 2023 with a clear mission: to make a real difference in the lives of seriously ill children, young people, and elderly individuals. The Foundation is equally committed to animal welfare and youth sports development, driven by the belief that every person and every animal deserves support, dignity and a chance to thrive. Current projects include close partnerships with children’s hospice services, animal-assisted therapy programmes and the training of assistance dogs for people with disabilities.
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