City comedian Adam Rowe says buy a round of drinks less on your night out – and give the money you save to Zoe’s Place

Liverpool comedy legend Adam Rowe is encouraging people to buy one round of drinks less on their next night out – and give the money they save to Zoe’s Place.

The 32-year-old stand-up comedian and podcaster says: “If you are planning your night out and you’ve budgeted a certain amount to spend, then spend £20 less, buy a round of drinks less, go home an hour earlier – and give the money you save to Zoe’s Place.

“I’m not asking anybody to go on the breadline, I know things are tight at the moment, but everyone needs to try and give what they can.

“We cannot let Zoe’s Place close!”

He adds: “Zoe’s Place currently cares for 50 babies and children and their families and there is nowhere else for them to go.

“It’s estimated that other hospices may have the capacity to help nine of them, but that would leave 41 without the care and support they need.

“We should be talking about opening more of these places – not even thinking about closing one of them.”

Adam is starring alongside John Bishop, Jason Manford, Iain Stirling, and Russell Kane at the Hotwater Comedy Club at Blackstock Market for a Zoe’s Place Charity Comedy Show in aid of the Liverpool baby hospice.

He says: “It’s a great line-up and all of those people, even the arena stars, contacted me and asked what they could do to help, which is great.

“Iain Stirling has no connection with Liverpool other than he supports Liverpool Football Club. He lives in London, he has parental responsibilities, but he is giving his time and paying for his own hotel to come and support Zoe’s Place.”

Zoe’s Place cares for babies and young children with life-limiting, life-threatening or complex conditions and its expert nurse-led team delivers, tailored care to children and their families, helping them live life to the fullest.

Founded in 1995, it is one of only three hospices in the UK which specialises in caring for very young children but the lease on its current site runs out in 2025 and plans to build a new £3.5million hospice building close by have fallen through due to delays in securing planning permission and rising costs within the construction industry.

A city-wide campaign has been launched to rally round and try to save the Yew Tree Lane hospice – and Adam was quick to do what he could.

He and fellow podcaster and comedian Dan Nightingale raised thousands for Zoe’s Place in 2021 when they recorded a song, Laura’s Gone, in a bid to reach the Christmas number 1, with proceeds going to Zoe’s Place and the Childhood Eye Cancer Trust.

It reached number 39 in the Official Charts Company midweek chart but Adam adds: “We were fourth in terms of sales but streaming rules killed us!”

It’s a charity close to his heart.

Adam, who grew up in Dovecot and West Derby, went to Cardinal Heenan High School, and he says: “I have raised money for Zoe’s Place since I was at school. It’s only 100 yards away from Zoe’s Place and it’s their charity of choice and it’s stuck with me.

“Over the years I’ve got to know some of the staff there, and the work they do is just incredible.”

He adds: “If anyone has followed me for any length of time, they might know that I was born with a severe problem with my left eye, and I was in and out of Alder Hey and Arrowe Park for care and surgery for the first few years of my life.

“I got the care and support I needed from the NHS and so did my family but right now the country isn’t in the same health it was back then. That means hospitals can’t provide the full support that I was given, and that means places like Zoe’s Place are so vital.

“No-one gets to choose that their child is either born with a disability or a life-limiting condition, or goes straight into palliative care. It’s unimaginable.”

Credit: Zoe's Place — Credit: Zoe’s Place

Adam says during a recent walk into town he was constantly congratulated for what he and others were doing, but he says: “To be honest, I understand people mean well and I’m not having a go, but we haven’t done anything yet.

“We are not out of the woods and if we get to the end of this month and all we’ve managed to do is get ourselves a few pats on the back, then I’m not going to be very proud of anything.

“We have still got a proper fight on our hands.

“I have a lot more hope than I did on the day Zoe’s Place announced its closure, but we still need more people to step up, more famous faces to give a sizeable donation – and if you do, on this occasion don’t do it quietly.

“Make some noise and encourage your followers to do the same.

“We need people to give as much as they can, and make a fuss and make some noise so as many people hear about this and see it.”

He adds: “I will be very proud of myself and everyone else if we manage to save Zoe’s Place.

“It only matters if we save it, and that’s the priority for me.”

Hotwater Comedy Club’s Zoe’s Place Charity Comedy Show – now sold out – is taking place on Monday, October 28, with a live streaming event during which everyone watching will be encouraged to donate at least £10 if they can, or as much as they can.