Former Olympic cyclist Victoria Pendleton is planning to indulge this Christmas, which she says is a time for giving – and eating!
"Christmas in my household is very low key and it's all about food!" the London 2012 champion tells HELLO!. "We've decided now that, all the adults in the family, we only give edible gifts so it's all about getting some chocolate treats or something a bit special."
For Victoria, who is married to former cycling coach Scott Gardner, there's one treat that tops her Santa's list.
"Christmas is definitely a time to indulge and I think my biggest indulgence is probably chocolate covered stem ginger. It's the only time of year I eat it and I absolutely love it," she says. "We don't have many family traditions but I must insist everyone wears a Christmas hat at the dinner table."
It's a change from when she was a child, she says, and Christmas morning was full of traditions between her and twin brother Alex. "I have lots of fun childhood memories. I have a twin brother and quite often we'd get exactly the same present, so we'd have a massive race in the morning to get down and open the presents as quickly as possible."
"We're not at all competitive," she laughs, meaning the exact opposite.
The generous cyclist and jockey says she is delighted to support Great Ormond Street Hospital with HELLO!'s campaign. "I'd just like to say, if you're thinking about possible donating to charity this Christmas, please bear in mind Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital. It's a charity close to my heart and they do so much good work."
We hope that you will join Victoria and HELLO! by supporting this very worthy cause. We all like to be with our loved ones this time of year. For the families of patients at Great Ormond Street Hospital, this is especially true.
With your support, Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity could help fund family accommodation so mums, dads, brothers and sisters can stay close by, or help fund the creation of bigger rooms in new hospital wards so parents of the most seriously ill children can stay by their bedside 24 hours a day.
The charity also funds play specialists so that children can enjoy some festive fun despite going through very difficult times, and funds research and equipment that will enable the hospital to find new cures and save more lives.
Every donation to Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity will help keep families together this Christmas. And be sure to check back tomorrow to find out which of our wonderful celebs will be popping out from door number 16!
Make a donation to GOSH CC online, or by texting FIVE to 70111*
*Texts cost £5 plus your standard network rate. Please ask the bill payer's permission. Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity will receive 100% of your gift. We may contact you to tell you more about our work; if you would prefer we didn't text NOCALL GOSH to 78866. Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity. Registered charity no. 1160024
