Former Emmerdale star Danny Miller showed his support for ballooncard on Saturday as the Manchester based charity he is co-founder of ‘Once Upon a Smile’ was chosen as the first locally based charity ballooncard is supporting in our region.
Miller’s celebrity mates including Waterloo Road’s Nav Choudry and Coronation Street’s Ryan Thomas came out in force to join him in the celebrations taking place at Piccadilly Gardens in the heart of Manchester’s City Centre.
The family fun day took place to mark the launch of ballooncard – a new and totally free discount card that has been created to support local business and shoppers. The card gives shoppers access to hundreds of moneysaving deals and discounts throughout Greater Manchester.
Throughout the day the general public enjoyed free mini cupcakes, had souvenir snaps taken in the ballooncard photobooth, marveled at balloon models being created and took home free ballooncards that were handed out.
Marketing Director of ballooncard, Andrew Colwell:
“Ballooncard is all about supporting your local community-it helps local people save money-it creates new customers for local businesses & not forgetting gives valuable support to the NSPCC in Manchester and other locally based ‘children related’ charities”.
Whilst ballooncard is proud to be partnered with the NSPCC as the national charity they support, at the launch they announced they would also be helping Once Upon a Smile. The Manchester based charity offers a source of support to families who have suffered the loss of a child or parent (and have young children) to a long term or terminal illness. 
Danny Miller couldn’t contain his excitement at the latest step for his charity:
“It’s great to be a part of ballooncard’s launch today. I am honored and proud of the work we have done as a charity and the difference we have made. I believe that with a working partnership with ballooncard, this will help us reach out even further. Not only a great product but with a great charity ethos ballooncard is the perfect partnership for Once Upon A Smile”.
Hundreds gathered on the grass to watch TV stars Danny Miller, Ryan Thomas and Nav Choudry join the ballooncard team, Once Upon a Smile’s mascot Sidley the Bear and the NSPCC to release 1000s of balloons into the air. The release marked the official launch of ballooncard and turned Manchester’s City Centre skyline into a sea of colourful balloons, receiving rapturous applause!
Rowan Gill, NSPCC corporate fundraising manager for Manchester added: “It has been a fantastic launch and there’s been a brilliant crowd here today. We are thrilled that ballooncard have chosen to support the NSPCC as a charity partner. Our relationship with ballooncard is a fantastic opportunity to raise awareness of our work to protect children and young people from abuse across Manchester and around the UK.”
