8 celebrities supporting charities
Melanie May | 24 November 2021 | News
From Nadiya Hussain’s support of WaterAid and its latest appeal to Sir Chris Hoy’s bike ride for Social Bite’s Villages, and Helen Fospero presenting a BBC Lifeline Appeal for SeeAbility, here are 8 celebrities currently or recently lending their support to good causes.
Nadiya Hussain launches WaterAid appeal
TV chef Nadiya Hussain MBE recently launched WaterAid’s new appeal, Thirst for Knowledge, which helps to give generations of girls the chance to build a better future by bringing clean water, decent toilets, and good hygiene to schools worldwide. Hussain, an ambassador for the international charity since 2016, is adding her support to the campaign alongside the launch of her latest venture, including her new BBC2 television series and book, both called Nadiya’s Fast Flavours. The UK government will match public donations made between 16 November 2021 and 15 February 2022 up to £2 million.
Advertisement
Gerard Butler match funds annual fundraising supper for CHAS
Gerard Butler has once again shown his support for Children’s Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS) by making a surprise festive donation to the charity. The Paisley-born star offered to match fund money raised at the annual Comrie Festive Supper for CHAS, while he was back in Scotland visiting his mum Margaret Coll, who lives in the village. Organised by local CHAS supporters Nancy McRae and Barbara Stewart, the festive supper raised £2,200 this year and Butler honoured his pledge by writing a cheque to the charity for the same amount, taking the total raised to £4,400. This is the second time the actor has supported CHAS after taking part in the charity’s Big Girly Quiz last year which was organised virtually in place of a number of events which were cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Lorraine Kelly hosts The STV Children’s Appeal
Lorraine Kelly once again hosted this year’s STV Children’s Appeal. The annual TV fundraising event took place on Friday 29 October, with this its tenth birthday. For the first time, it was hosted at Kilmarnock-based performing arts academy CentreStage. It saw Kelly meet some of the many people who benefit from CentreStage’s activities and discover why it has proven a lifeline for the local community. The show also featured a live performance from the 60-strong CentreStage Choir, made up of local people from all backgrounds, circumstances and abilities.
Duchess of Cornwall extends BookTrust patronage
BookTrust has announced that Her Royal Highness, The Duchess of Cornwall has agreed to extend her patronage of the charity. After a decade as Patron of BookTrust, The Duchess of Cornwall’s continued support coincides with the charity’s new strategy which focuses on supporting children from disadvantaged families to enjoy the transformative benefits of reading.
Sir Chris Hoy joins charity cycle for Social Bite Villages
Sir Chris Hoy led the way on Sunday 5 September as he joined hundreds of other cyclists on a charity cycle from Glasgow to Edinburgh to raise money to help build two new villages for people experiencing homelessness. Hoy completed the 60-mile route to support Social Bite’s ‘Break the Cycle’ campaign, which has so far raised over £700,000 as it aims to fund the creation of two new Social Bite Villages in Glasgow and London. Amongst the 540 participants was former Scotland Rugby player, John Barclay, as well as residents and staff from the Social Bite Village in Edinburgh.
Stars join forces in film for Stand Up to Cancer
David Oyelowo (Selma, 2014), Paralympian Amy Conroy and actors Dame Harriet Walter, Jason Watkins, Daniel Mays and Kadiff Kirwan have joined forces in a short film for Stand Up To Cancer. Marking the return of the joint national fundraising campaign from Cancer Research UK and Channel 4, the film highlights the positive change that can be achieved when humanity stands up for what it believes in. The famous faces appear alongside cancer patients, their loved ones, and medical staff as they call upon the nation to Stand Up To Cancer.
Nedum Onuoha joins City in the Community’s board of trustees
Manchester City’s Official Foundation, City in the Community (CITC), is delighted to announce that former player Nedum Onuoha has joined its Board of Trustees. Onuhoa grew up in Miles Platting, just minutes away from where the Etihad Stadium now stands, before representing his boyhood club between 2004-12. The former defender will now play an integral role in helping to make decisions for CITC and shape its work across Greater Manchester.
TV presenter Helen Fospero presents Lifeline appeal for SeeAbility
TV presenter Helen Fospero presented the BBC Lifeline Appeal in support of learning disability charity SeeAbility on 21 November. Fospero became involved with SeeAbility in 2019 when she joined her friend Amar Latif – known for BBC2 reality series, Beyond Boundaries – and 20 other adventurers on a fundraising trek in aid of SeeAbility, to the summit of Mount Toubkal in the Atlas Mountains. It is hoped the appeal will help increase awareness of the charity.
About Melanie May
Melanie May is a journalist and copywriter specialising in writing both for and about the charity and marketing services sectors since 2001. She can be reached via thepurplepim.com.