Look To The Stars News: Joanna Lumley

Give Landmines The Boot With Charity Auction

Tue, 25 Nov 2008 15:00:00 -0000

A British charity for victims of landmines has launched their annual online celebrity shoe auction.

The Mines Advisory Group has gathered footwear from over 50 celebrities for the auction, which will raise vital funds for their projects and draw attention to the part of the body most vulnerable to landmines.

The auction was launched by model Kelly Knox, the glamorous winner of BBC 3’s best disabled model competition, at Merchant Taylor’s Hall in London.

“We are extremely honored to have Kelly launch our shoe auction this year,” said MAG’s Chief Executive Lou McGrath OBE. “Despite being born without a left forearm, Kelly has proven disability is not a deterrent to success. She should be an inspiration to the many thousands of people who have been cruelly maimed by the thousands of landmines still threatening lives and communities worldwide.”

Celebrities who have donated their soles to the cause include Judi Dench, Geri Halliwell, Chrissie Hynde, Beverley Knight, Ian McKellen, Shirley Bassey, Russell Brand, Jarvis Cocker, Heather Mills, Joanna Lumley, Susan Sarandon, Pete Townshend, KT Tunstall, Chris Martin, Rolf Harris, and many others.

The auction ends on December 4 and can be accessed via the MAG eBay site.

British charity auction site Buy Once Give Twice also currently has some exciting opportunities for philanthropic bargain hunters.

Rays of Sunshine – a charity that grants wishes to seriously and terminally ill children in the UK – have a whole bunch of VIP tickets up for grabs on the site right now, including concert experiences with Coldplay, Madness, and the Kaiser Cheifs. There is also a Fender guitar signed by Sting up for grabs, as well as a Chelsea football shirt signed by the whole team, and the chance to hang out with Emma Thompson on the set of the new Nanny McPhee movie.

But you better be quick, this auction ends tomorrow, November 26.

British Stars Sign Favorite Books For Africa

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 13:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Some of Britain’s best loved stars have signed editions of their favorite books for a new charity auction.

Helen Mirren, Joanna Lumley, and Ian McKellen are amongst the celebrities to sign the books, which cover a wide variety of genres.

“Education offers a route out of poverty and books are the foundation of lifelong learning, yet the majority of people in Africa cannot afford books of their own,“ said Lesley Pinder, Book Aid International spokeswoman. “The proceeds from this online auction will help Book Aid International support reading and learning in some of the world’s poorest countries by getting books into libraries, universities, hospitals and refugee camps.”

The range of books chosen as favorites by the stars is vast and revealing. Mirren has signed Suite Francais by Irene Nemirovsky, Sir David Jason has chosen Kenneth Grahame’s The Wind in the Willows – which he voiced for a BBC series in the 1980s – and Gary Lineker has inscribed A Good Walk Spoiled by John Feinstein. Joanna Lumley has chosen Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, while Robbie Coltrane has signed Huckleberry Finn. Other names to take part include Twiggy, Alexander McCall Smith, Alan Rickman, Sue Townsend, Frederick Forsyth, Tim Rice, and Julian Fellowes.

Book Aid International is a non-profit organization that sends over half a million books to sub-Saharan Africa every year to support literacy, education and development. The books are almost always new books donated by UK publishers, and are distributed to national libraries, local and regional libraries, community libraries, schools, prisons, refugee camps, and NGO resource centers in 12 African countries. They also provide grants for purchasing books locally (especially those in local languages), and training and advice to ensure that books are targeted to the right groups of people and are well used.

The auction runs until October 27, and can be accessed through eBay.

Joanna Lumley Supports Gurkha Battle

Wed, 17 Sep 2008 13:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

British actress Joanna Lumley has pledged her support to hundreds of elderly Nepalese Gurkhas seeking to retire in Britain.

The Gurkhas are part of a famous regiment of Nepalese soldiers that has fought for Britain since 1815, most recently in Iraq, Afghanistan and the former Yugoslavia. Although they have fought and died for Britain, a court ruling means those who retired before 1997 have no automatic right to live in Britain. All other foreign soldiers in the British Army can settle in Britain after four years’ service anywhere in the world.

Lumley – who was born in India – joined a protest outside the British High Court yesterday, where the soldiers’ case is being heard.

“My father served alongside the Gurkhas for 30 years,“ said the 62-year-old actress. “I am a daughter of the regiment. He would be absolutely overwhelmed with shame and fury that we have behaved this way to the Gurkhas, our most loyal and constant friends. I am never ashamed to be British, but I am ashamed of the behavior of the British legal system towards these brave men. We have discriminated against them dreadfully. It is a stain on our relationship.”

The hearing is expected to last two days, although the ruling will not be released for several weeks.

JK Rowling Kept Busy With Charity Work

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 11:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

A signed first edition of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows will be the big attraction in a charity auction in Scotland next week.

Author JK Rowling has donated the book to the Perth and Kinross Association of Voluntary Service (PKAVS), to be auctioned off as part of their Touch of Tartan charity ball on August 29.

“We were really excited to receive this donation from JK Rowling and to have her support,” said Helen MacKinnon, marketing and development co-ordinator for the organization. “As the prize is so outstanding and tickets have sold out, we have decided to open up the bidding on the Harry Potter novel to anyone interested.”

The Ball will take place at the Salutation Hotel in the Scottish town of Perth, and will include a civic reception hosted by Perth and Kinross Council, fine dining, and Scottish melodies from local band the Gallivanters.

PKAVS has been helping people and families across Perth & Kinross for over 30 years, and run a range of projects supporting the community of Perth & Kinross. Their projects help over 5,000 local people every year, supporting the elderly, the disabled, individuals with mental ill health, and the family members who care for them.

The book has been estimated to be worth over £500 (US$1,000), and anyone interested in bidding should contact Helen MacKinnon at helen.mackinnon@pkavs.org.uk before August 28.

Rowling is also involved with a charity-based competition being run in Britain. St. Martin-in-the-Fields, a London landmark currently undergoing a more-than $70-million upgrade, has invited stars to design panes of stained glass which will then be given away as prizes in the competition. Joining Rowling in flexing her design muscles are Stephen Fry, Joanna Lumley, and Bill Bryson.

People interested in entering the competition can choose whose design they want to win, with entries costing £10. To take part, visit the competition website.

Joanna Lumley Wants China Out Of Tibet

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 05:00:55 -0000

Written by Elizabeth Willoughby

British actress Joanna Lumley, peacefully campaigning for a free Tibet, is having a hard time getting heard.

Born in Kashmir, Lumley was deeply touched by the plight of Tibetans making the perilous journey across the mountains into India and meeting the Dalai Lama in Dharamsala when he spoke to the newly arrived refugees. Today, she’s a spokesperson for the Free Tibet movement.

“There are people in the most ghastly straits in that country,” said Lumley. “The suffering there is indescribably dreadful and it’s been going on for so long that we’ve deafened our ears. It’s called Tibet. If it was part of China, it would be called China.”

Lumley told The Guardian that while she was rallying for a Free Tibet in London, the press only followed the protesters who were chasing the Olympic torch.

“The truth is, peaceful protest hasn’t worked,” Lumley said in the interview. “It’s the people who did that [violence] who got into the papers. We didn’t. Our rally at the weekend was completely ignored… because they were looking for trouble; because protest is what gets in the paper.”

Students for a Free Tibet have used the 2008 Beijing Olympics as a unique opportunity to expose atrocities of Chinese rule in Tibet and are vehemently against allowing the Olympic torch being run through their country.

“People say, oh what a shame, the [protestors] have spoilt the running of the torch,” Lumley told the paper. “Well I’m sorry, hang the torch, it’s not an age-old tradition – it was only invented in 1936, wasn’t it? … Please don’t pretend that a couple of people running out with a bicycle is the most dangerous stuff that’s ever happened. …But if it hadn’t happened, Tibet again would have been ignored.”

Celebrity Portraits Up For Auction

Thu, 23 Aug 2007 08:25:15 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Autographed portraits of some of Hollywood’s brightest stars are up for auction on the internet this month, as part of the “Stars For A Cause”: charity Gala to be held in September.

George Clooney, Matt Damon, Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt are just some of the legends who have been immortalized in the works by acclaimed artist, Nicolosi. Painted using acrylic on canvas, these pop-art style portraits are both colorful and dynamic, and have been exhibited in London and Los Angeles, as well as at the Cannes Film Festival and on the cruise liner, the Queen Mary II.

Proceeds from the auction will go to The Prince’s Trust, a UK based charity that helps young people overcome barriers by providing training, mentoring, and financial assistance. Joanna Lumley, an ambassador for the Trust, is one of the stars featured in the collection. The Hollywood Museum will also benefit from the auction.

The pictures were personally autographed by the stars during Entertainment Tonight interviews held backstage at events such as the 64th Annual Golden Globe Awards, and the 58th Primetime Emmys.

“We are always eager to support the charitable endeavors of celebrities,” said Linda Bell Blue, executive producer for Entertainment Tonight. “So we readily embraced the opportunity to get involved with Stars For A Cause.”

The online auction will run until September 27, when a VIP Gala will be held at The Hollywood Museum. Many of the stars featured in the portraits are expected to attend the event, and the evening will bring bidding on the paintings to a close. Other celebrities whose portraits are for sale include Angelina Jolie, Alan Alda, Mariska Hargitay, Kyra Sedgwick, Jane Kaczmarek, Ashton Kutcher, Demi Moore, Geena Davis, Candice Bergen, Julia Louis Dreyfus, Debra Messing, Forest Whitaker, Kiefer Sutherland, Meryl Streep, Charlie Sheen, Jack Nicholson, Eddie Murphy, Helen Mirren, Penelope Cruz, Daniel Craig, Beyoncé Knowles, and Borat star Sacha Baron Cohen. Bids start at $500, and can be viewed at www.juliensauctions.com.

Stars Read Stories for Charity

Sun, 19 Aug 2007 12:41:12 -0000

Written by Myrlia Purcell

Joanna Lumley and Tony Robinson have lent their voice talents to a series of downloadable stories for children. Recordings of the Mr Men and Little Miss books from Roger Hargreaves’ best-selling series benefit the Variety Club, a charity which works with underprivileged children.

Lumley reads Little Miss Sunshine, Robinson reads Mr Tickle, and Wendy Richard tells the story of Little Miss Splendid.

Ben Shephard, Neil Fox and John Simm also tell stories from the beloved series.

Wendy Richard OBE said at her podcast recording: “I was delighted to be asked to read a Little Miss story for the celebrity podcast. It is a great way to raise money for the invaluable work Variety Club does to help underprivileged children have a better quality of life.”

There are seven recordings in all, costing £1.50 ($3) each, or £5 ($10) for the entire set. All of the proceeds go to the charity.

Joanna Lumley Helps Darfur Appeal

Thu, 14 Jun 2007 12:31:48 -0000

Written by Gavin Fearnley

British actress Joanna Lumley has joined calls to help save lives whilst the conflict in Darfur and Chad continues to wreak havoc.

The 61-year-old is working with the UK’s leading aid charities through the Disasters Emergency Committee in making an appeal to hundreds of thousands of newspaper readers.

In a letter written to local papers in Britain, the former Bond girl said, “We are seeing one of the greatest concentrations of human suffering right now in Darfur and Chad with 4.5 million people affected.

“The impending rains will make the situation worse, bringing the risk of deadly conditions like diarrhoea and malaria especially for children, pregnant mothers and the elderly.”

Brendan Gormley, Chief Executive of the Disasters Emergency Committee said, “We have been keeping people alive but access is already severely hampered by conflict and the rains will make it much harder for us to respond if we don’t act now.”

Joanna Lumley is heavily involved in charity work including The Druk White Lotus School in Kashmir and mental health charity Mind.

To donate to the Darfur and Chad Crisis Appeal visit www.dec.org.uk

Look To The Stars News: Joanna Lumley

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