Look To The Stars News: David Prowse

The Stars Come Out For Tilly

Mon, 07 Sep 2009 14:30:00 -0000

A host of stars were out in the weekend to support a young British girl who contracted Meningococcal Septicaemia as a baby and lost her hands as a result.

Last year, Look To The Stars brought you the story of Tilly Lockey, who contracted a deadly form of flesh-eating meningitis for which there is no vaccination. It was every mother’s nightmare, and for four weeks Tilly fought back in intensive care. After ten blood transfusions later she was finally pronounced out of danger. Unfortunately her hands and toes were already dead, and had to be removed.

Tilly recently received her first set of prosthetic hands. According to her parents, “these need to be replaced as she grows, consultants have told us that they will need to be changed a minimum of once every year if not twice up until she is 18 years old! We received the invoice for the hands and they are costing £23,464.00 a pair. Therefore if we need to have a target of raising approx £800,000.00 to cover the costs up until Tilly is 18 years old.”

A star-studded event at Gateshead’s Hilton Hotel in the UK on September 5 saw over 100 celebrity hand prints auctioned to raise money for three-year-old Tilly. British stars such as fundraising patron Denise Welch, Duncan Bannatyne, Emmerdale’s Charlie Hardwick and Vicky Hawkins, and Waterloo Road’s Chris Greere turned out for the event, which featured hand prints from stars such as JK Rowling, Linford Christie, David Jason, Cliff Richard, David Prowse, Alan Shearer, Daniel Craig, Girls Aloud, the late Wendy Richard, cast members from Coronation Street, Bill Bailey, Geri Halliwell, Katherine Jenkins, Katie Melua, Jonathan Ross, Rolf Harris, Lorraine Kelly, the late Bobby Robson and many more.

Guests to the event were treated to an amazing fun-filled night for the very special little girl. Upon entering the venue, guests were able to have their photos taken with Jaws from the James Bond films and Bond’s very own Aston Martin. After being greeted by characters from Star Wars, they were then treated to a Champagne Reception, three course dinner and performances from Paul Lytton, Michael Donoghue and Richard Fleeshman.

There was also an amazing raffle where guests had the chance to win amazing prizes such as long haul flights, cosmetic treatments and much more.

To find out more about Tilly, visit her website.

Celebrity Handprints To Be Auctioned For Tilly

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Last year, Look To The Stars brought you the story of Tilly Lockey, a young girl who contracted Meningococcal Septicaemia as a baby and lost her hands as a result.

A number of stars, such as JK Rowling, Linford Christie, David Jason, Cliff Richard, David Prowse and Alan Shearer showed their support for Tilly’s cause by donating handprints and casts for a charity auction to give her new hands. Look To The Stars is now happy to announce that the 2009 Celebrity Handprint Auction will take place on September 5 at the Hilton Newcastle Gateshead Hotel in the UK.

The gala evening will feature entertainment from Paul Lytton, Michael Donoghue and Richard Fleeshman, as well as a Champagne Reception and 3 course dinner.

Other handprints up for auction on the night include Daniel Craig, Girls Aloud, the late Wendy Richard, cast members from Coronation Street, Bill Bailey, Geri Halliwell, Katherine Jenkins, Katie Melua, Jonathan Ross, Rolf Harris, Lorraine Kelly, Bobby Robson and many more.

To purchase tickets to the event, view the handprints, or find out more about Tilly’s cause, visit the official website.

Ricky Gervais Designs Manbag For Charity

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Ricky Gervais is among celebrities who have made their mark on a new fundraising initiative designed to raise awareness of prostate cancer.

Leading online retailer manbagcompany.com threw down the gauntlet to some of the UK’s favorite celebs to let their imaginations run riot and customize one of its exclusive Messenger bags. The great and the good from the arenas of fashion, comedy, art, music and film stepped forward to add their personal touches to a Manbag – and raise money for The Prostate Cancer Charity into the bargain.

A host of contributors rose to the challenge and joined Ricky in supporting the initiative, including Coldplay, Depeche Mode, Alan Carr, Rio Ferdinand, Twiggy, Jade Jagger, Joe Corres, Spandau Ballet, Darth Vader, Bruce Oldfield, Jimmy Choo, Tom Baker (Dr Who) and many more.

The resulting collection of bags – from the comic to the cool – will now be auctioned on eBay on 24 June, with all of the proceeds going to the Charity.

Ricky Gervais explained his belief as to why so many celebrities have come forward to support the campaign: “Prostate cancer touches the lives of 35,000 men and their families every year in the UK. I hope the auction of celebrity manbags will raise as much money as possible for The Prostate Cancer Charity.”

Manbagcompany.com has enjoyed great success since it launched its collection of top of the range men’s bags last year, so much so that it now wanted to give something back.

Says manbag founder Bain Ellisdon: “We are delighted to be raising funds for such a worthy cause as The Prostate Cancer Charity. We have received great feedback from those we have contacted so far; this initiative really seems to have brought out people’s creative as well as philanthropic side!”

John Neate, Chief Executive of The Prostate Cancer Charity, said: “This collaboration really seems to have struck people’s imaginations – and revealed some hidden artistic talent. The designs range from a glittery prostate by Jason Gardiner to a playful creation by Jimmy Choo. We would like to thank Bain and the rest of the Manbagcompany team for their support, as well as all of the celebrities who have taken the time to customize a bag. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in the UK. I think this project will really help raise awareness of the disease across different age groups, as well as generate funds for the Charity.”

To find out more and view the designs, click here.

Darth Vader Puts His Force Behind Charity Jump

Thu, 02 Oct 2008 14:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Darth Vader isn’t all that evil – he’s helping a British man lose weight so he can skywalk for charity.

David Prowse – who played Darth Vader in George Lucas’ Star Wars films – is known for his work training actors, such as Christopher Reeve, to get fit. But in his latest role, the 73-year-old is doing what he loves best: helping raise money for a charity that helps people with disabilities.

British man Nick Lawson is planning to do a tandem skydive to raise money for Phab Kids – a charity of which Prowse is the vice president – and the former actor is helping him train for the event.

“It is a great opportunity to work with Phab, and to meet such an inspirational role model as Dave,” Lawson told the Croydon Guardian in Britain. “Phab is a great charity which for more than 50 years has been bringing together people with and without disabilities, to learn from each other, and above all to have fun. It is a small charity with a big heart and every penny and every pound really does make a difference.”

Helping people with disabilities is a cause close to Prowse’s heart: he has suffered from arthritis for much of his life, and has had both hips replaced.

Young Girl Calls Celebrities For A Hand

Mon, 10 Mar 2008 12:37:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Tilly Lockey is only two years old, but she is hoping for a little magic. At the moment, this bright-eyed toddler is eager and happy, but she lacks the ability to do the things that other two year olds do. She can’t reach out for her toys. She doesn’t know what it is like to clutch a crayon and draw a picture. She can’t even hold her mother’s hand.

You see, Tilly Lockey has no hands of her own. But she wants some. And with a little help, she might just get some.

When Tilly was still a baby, she contracted Meningococcal Septicaemia, a deadly form of flesh-eating meningitis for which there is no vaccination. It was every mother’s nightmare – to see her baby slowly turn purple, then black, tubes coming out of every part of her tiny body, helpless and beaten by a relentless disease. For four weeks Tilly fought back in intensive care, and after ten blood transfusions later she was finally pronounced out of danger. Unfortunately her hands and toes were already dead, and had to be removed.

But this is where the magic comes in. Tilly’s parents, Adam and Sarah, have launched a campaign to give their daughter a hand – two hands, in fact. And they are appealing to the stars for help.

The initiative involves celebrities making prints of their hands – or perhaps just drawing around them – and then customizing them in a way that defines their character. Harry Potter creator JK Rowling heads the field, with drawings of wizards adorning her fingers. Sir Cliff Richard has donated a plain green handprint to represent his clean image, and Only Fools And Horses actor Sir David Jason has decorated his print with pictures from the long-running BBC comedy series. The pictures will then be auctioned in October.

Other celebrities, such as retired English footballer Alan Shearer, pop duo Erasure, David Prowse – who played Darth Vader in the Star Wars movies – and several members of Manchester United have also made clay casts of their hands for the initiative.

Tilly has so far received over 40 handprints and casts for the auction, including those from singer Katie Melua, Rolf Harris, Patrick Stewart, Linford Christie, Wendy Richard, The Weakest Link’s Anne Robinson, and several English cricket players. But in order for her to get the prosthetic hands she so desperately wants, she needs more. If anyone can help Tilly, the campaign can be reached via enquires@tillylockey.co.uk. More information on Tilly’s story and the handprint auction can be found at www.givetillyahand.co.uk.

Look To The Stars News: David Prowse

The Stars Come Out For Tilly

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