Sir Rod Stewart has an estimated wealth of over £240 million and hasn't wasted any opportunity over recent years to put his healthy pay packets to good use in the form of giving back to the community and charities by gifting money.
The 78-year-old Maggie May singer has been known to not only donate to charitable causes but also gifted money towards patient care amid a crumbling NHS and held the government to account over how the public service is being run.
Celtic-daft singer Rod, who has been married to his model wife Penny Lancaster since 2007, has built up his impressive fortunes since he broke into the music industry back in the 1960s and today the rocker still has a hugely loyal fanbase.
And his kind-hearted gestures have not gone unnoticed over the years, with Rod well-known for helping others out by being generous with both his time and money as the Mirror took a look at his honourable work over recent years.
Charity donations
Rod Stewart's personal trainer 63-year-old Gary O'Connor, who has been helping keep him in shape for more than 20 years, spoke of the rocker's generosity earlier this year after Rod sponsored him in facing a gruelling hike for charity.
Gary was touched when Rod allowed him to use his name to draw attention to him climbing the Pen Y Fan mountain in Wales to raise funds for Myeloma UK via a Just Giving appeal.
Rod helped Gary raise thousands of pounds for the cause, as well as bringing his star power to their fundraiser.
“It’s something I’m doing because it’s linked intrinsically with the charity that supports research for my sister," Gary explained to the Express.
“Ordinarily, nobody would be interested in me or Lee or my sister but when you bring in the status of Sir Rod Stewart, that’s the hook and thank goodness he’s very supportive.”
Helping out suffering NHS patients
In January this year, the Do Ya Think I'm Sexy singer appeared on Sky News to speak of his shock when finding his private medical clinic was empty when he went for his annual scan, knowing hundreds of people were waiting for appointments.
Rod paid for NHS patients to attend the facility which left Sky News host Sarah-Jane Mee surprised at the news when he phoned into the show. He said: "I have been watching the programme all day and yes, I went for my yearly scan which is private, obviously, and I was 20 minutes late.
“I phoned in and I said, 'I'm terribly sorry I will be there. I will be half an hour late.' I get there and I said, 'I'm so sorry I am late'.
"And they said, 'we're not busy at all. We have only got a couple of customers in today'.
"The point being, this is ridiculous. I would like to pay for 10 or 20 scans. I don't know how we are going to work it out and hopefully, some other people will follow as it seems ridiculous that this particular scanning clinic was empty and there are people dying because they cannot get scans.
"Now listen to me, I don't need the publicity. I just want to do some good things and this I think is a good thing. And if other people follow me I would love it.”
Donation to Aberdeen cancer treatment facility
Just last month, Rod also donated a whopping £10,000 to NHS Grampian in Aberdeenshire to help patients fighting cancer with the funds used towards additional diagnostic scans for patients at the beginning of this month - giving 24 patients an earlier chance to be tested for possible cancers.
He told Aberdeen Live: “It’s vital that people receive early investigations and quick diagnosis. It is an honour to be in the position to be able to help support the NHS by funding some additional scans to boost NHS Grampian’s current capacity.”
It comes as the 78-year-old battled cancer himself after revealing back in 2019 he had been given the all-clear after overcoming prostate cancer. He has also suffered from thyroid cancer in the past too.
Supporting NHS workers
Rod Stewart has always felt strongly about a more stable NHS, from donating to patients in need of help and joining those on the front line in support of strike action.
He hit out at the UK government back in April as he joined forced with striking NHS nurses who were asking for a pay rise as he proudly backed the healthcare workers.
Rod explained that he thought it was “absolutely right” that nurses were downing tools while petitioning for more pay.
He continued: “I’m well on their side. I was absolutely with them, they come before anything.
“In all my time living in this country, I’ve never seen it so bad. And anything I can do to help. Poor nurses, I’m on your side.”
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