My name is Lisa Connell. I’ve been living with an inoperable meningioma brain tumour since 2006, and from the very beginning, I wanted to use my experience to raise awareness of brain tumours and support organisations funding life-saving research.
In 2010, I launched Rent A Date For Charity, which gained worldwide attention and raised over £50,000 for brain tumour causes. Health challenges forced me to pause, but my mission never stopped.
Since 2020, my tumour has been slowly growing again. Thankfully, my latest MRI results show 12 months of stability — a precious window that I’m using to accelerate a project I care deeply about: Influential Stars. And I have my miracle daughter, Ruby, by my side. She’s nine, fearless, and my inspiration to keep going.
Influential Stars is a fundraising platform with heart. We offer meet-and-greet experiences with UK personalities and creators, as well as exclusive experiences where one winner and a plus one can take part in something truly special. Every campaign is partnered with Virgin Experience Days, so there’s something for everyone.
We support all registered UK charitable causes, including crowdfunding pages for those living with life-limiting illnesses, as well as registered charities across a wide range of sectors. This means we can be flexible and responsive — supporting real people and real causes as they arise, not just one set organisation.
Here’s how it works for creators and supporters:
- Creators are offered a 10% thank you, which does not affect donations to the cause.
- We pledge to donate 70% of net profits from each campaign.
- If a creator chooses to pay their thank you forward, donations increase to 80%.
- If a nominated creator also chooses to forward their thank you, donations can reach up to 85% of net profits.
I’ve never been in this for financial gain, which is why I’ve funded the platform myself over the past two years. But as a single parent, I need a little support to keep it running while these new processes take effect. Any contributions that aren’t needed for ongoing costs will be fully donated to either crowdfunding pages for people with life-limiting illnesses or to help others experience once-in-a-lifetime opportunities.
Whether you can donate £2 or £200, every contribution helps keep this vision alive — a legacy Ruby and I can be proud of, one that keeps giving, no matter what the future holds.
Please donate today and help me help others.
For more information, visit Influential Stars
or follow us on social media:
@1nfluentialStars & @OfficiallyLisaConnell
From the bottom of my heart, thank you.
Organizer
