Mum of One Direction star Louis Tomlinson is new patron of Northamptonshire charity

Johannah Deakin has joined the likes of Northampton Saints players Ben Foden and Lee Dickson, cricket and radio personality Darren Gough and Westlife singer Shane Filan as a patron for the Wellingborough-based charity set up in memory of Niamh Curry.

Niamh lost her 18-month fight with childhood cancer neuroblastoma in May 2012 aged just five, but her legacy is the charity which raises money to fund research and raise awareness of the cruel disease.

Her parents Chris and Sam Curry and sister Hannah met Johannah and several of the One Direction bandmates last year and the charity is delighted to announce Louis’ mum has now agreed to be a patron for them.

Dad Chris said: “It is fantastic to have Johannah as a patron of Niamh’s Next Step, especially for us as a small Wellingborough-based charity.

“We have got amazing links with amazing people but this does take it up a league.

“It really is fantastic and we have got some exciting plans for this year with Johannah and Louis.”

Joining Johannah as a patron for the charity is Billy Joe Saunders, the WBO middleweight champion of the world.

Chris said: “Billy Joe is a friend of mine and I have known him for years.

“He did a lot for us before we lost Niamh and he’s stayed loyal ever since.

“He wears the wristband religiously and he says Niamh is a little bit of a guardian angel for him.

“His support is fantastic and he is a genuine guy, he’s got a heart of gold.

“He is always asking if he can do anything for us.”

Billy Joe represented Great Britain at the 2008 Olympics turning professional shortly afterwards and is currently British, Commonwealth, European and World middleweight boxing champion.

For more information about Niamh’s Next Step and the work it does, go to www.niamhsnextstep.com.

To keep up-to-date with the charity, follow @NiamhsNextStep on Twitter.

You can also follow its new patrons on Twitter by searching for @johannahdeakin and @bjsaunders_