Lewis Hamilton visits the YMCA!

WITH millions in his bank account and a stunning pop star girlfriend, where would you guess racing superstar Lewis Hamilton chose to spend his spare time last week? 

Gambling at the Monte Carlo casino, skiing in the Swiss Alps, or maybe a spot of shopping in Milan ahead of his appearance at the Italian Grand Prix in Monza on Sunday? Guess again. The current Formula One world champion made a secret visit to Reigate and Redhill YMCA last Thursday on a mission for BBC's Children in Need. Confused gym users contacted the Mirror after noticing Mr Hamilton's multi-million pound F1 racing car parked alongside the people carriers and Peugeots at the Prince's Road site in Earlswoo

The 24-year-old spent four-and-a-half hours filming a fundraising appeal for the YIPPEE project – a summer scheme for children with profound disabilities. He said: "It was great to spend some time with the YIPPEE project, which is supported by Children in Need, and it was fantastic to see how happy the kids are able to be."

"The YIPPEE play schemes, which take place in the school holidays for children with complex needs or disabilities, are only possible thanks to the generosity of the British public in donating to Children in Need."

Ian Burks, 49, of Smoke Lane, Reigate, is chief executive of Redhill YMCA. In 2008, the Children In Need fund awarded them £12,000 a year for three years to help implement their YIPPEE project. He said: "We got a few e-mails last week from Children in Need. They were saying a celebrity would be coming down, but they would not say who it was.

"However, they said a Formula One car would be coming down so we had an idea in the office of who it might be. I was expecting someone like Damon Hill – I never expected Lewis to arrive. He was absolutely brilliant with the children. I was really touched by how much empathy he showed."

The current F1 champion filmed with the children from 2pm to 6.30pm. During the filming, Mr Hamilton joked around with the YIPPEE participants, bounced around on the YMCA's trampoline and showed children around the racing car. Mr Burks added: "He even played a couple of rounds of boccia – a game where leather balls are thrown towards a white target ball.

"The kids loved the fact he was taking part. The funny thing is he got really competitive by the end of it." The footage will be shown on the Children in Need appeal night on November 20. Mother-of-three Clare Wells, 32, of Crawley, was delighted her son Charlie Jones, nine, had a chance to meet the racing superstar.

She said: "We got here and saw the F1 car and just thought 'wow'. "He was great with Charlie and all the other kids. I think this is a really good way to highlight the scheme as it has been great for us over the summer."