Harry Potter Returns For Charity Gala And Prequel

Mon, 02 Jun 2008 11:38:00 -0000

Witches and wizards galore crammed a castle in the dark depths of Scotland on Friday night, all in the name of charity.

Harry Potter creator JK Rowling host to the goulish guests at the ghastly gala held at Harburn House in West Lothian to raise funds for the Scottish Multiple Sclerosis Society. And as well as monstrous music and disastrous dancing (ok, sorry, the alliteration is just getting silly now), there was also an auction with a very special prize donated by the author – the chance to be immortalized as a wizard or witch in a portrait at the new Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme park in Florida.

The event, which was attended by guests such as Charlotte Church and author Ian Rankin, raised a massive $632,000 for the charity.

Rowling is a longtime supporter of the MS Society, and became patron of the organization after losing her mother to the disease.

The gala follows the announcement last week that Rowling has penned an 800-word prequel to her seven-book Harry Potter series as part of a charity auction to be held next month.

The auction will take place at Waterstone’s Bookstore in Central London on June 10, and will feature a selection of short stories written by famous writers on special cards. Money from the auction will go to English PEN, the writer’s association, and Dyslexia Action.

The auction follows the sale of a handwritten, leather-bound book of fairy tales the author sold for $4 million in December to raise money for Children’s Voice.

And for any diehard Potter fans out there – the prequel is said to be a conversation between Harry’s father, James, and Sirius Black.

Charlotte Church’s Urgent Plea for Organ Donation

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 12:03:31 -0000

Written by Theresa Mills

Singer and TV chat show host Charlotte Church joined the campaign for organ donation after meeting a 20-month-old boy with liver disease.

Finlay Careless was born with the life-threatening condition and his survival depends on a transplant. His name is being added to the long list of children and adults awaiting organs.

Finlay’s parents, who are family friends, appealed to the singer to raise public awareness about the need to register for organ donation.

“If this means one person picks up a donor card, or gives a pound to the liver disease foundation, it’s going to help,” said Finlay’s father, Julian Careless.

A new mother herself, Church knew she had to take action.

She visited the Children’s Hospital for Wales in Cardiff, where she met other sick children awaiting transplants.

As she held a six-and-a-half month old baby in need of a liver and bowel transplant she said: “It’s so important. It’s something everyone should do. A baby like this can benefit so much.”

“As soon as you have children you just realize how precious they are.”

“I wanted to get the message across to donate organs. I’m definitely going to do it myself.”

John Oliver from UK Transplant hopes that Church’s support will inspire people to register for organ donation.

“There is a chronic shortage of donated organs,” he said. “The fact that the need for transplantation has touched Church directly, through friends, helps bring home more than anything just how desperate the need is.

  ”Organ donation is something we can all do something about.

“We’re delighted Charlotte is highlighting how we all have the potential to save lives.”  

Look To The Stars News: Charlotte Church

Harry Potter Returns For Charity Gala And Prequel

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