Look To The Stars News: Cancer Research UK

Guests Announced For UK A Not So Silent Night Concert

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 11:30:00 -0000

Boy George, Dawn French, Guy Garvey, Jennifer Saunders and The Thompsons (Teddy, Kami, Linda) are just a few of the special guests and friends announced for the hotly anticipated Wainwright/McGarrigle Family Christmas concert, ‘A Not So Silent Night’ at the Royal Albert Hall, December 9th. It is the first time the show will take place in the UK.

This special seasonal Royal Albert Hall show will be headlined by Rufus and Martha Wainwright, and will also include performances by Ed Harcourt, International soprano and ‘Prima Donna’ star Janis Kelly, Jenni Muldaur plus human beatbox Shlomo.

In the US, Christmas has practically become synonymous with the bi-annual Wainwright/McGarrigle Carnegie Hall shows. The New York Times has called the show an “enactment of a family gathering: motley, full of overlapping agendas, a little sentimental, a little fractious but harmonious in the end.”

“It is an off-the-cuff evening of friends and family kind of popping on and off stage as if the stage was our living room,” said Rufus Wainwright.

Tickets are on sale now priced from £35-£70. Tickets are available online from www.artistticket.com, by phone on 0871 230 0333 and to personal callers to the Royal Albert Hall Box Office.

A limited number of exclusive A Not So Silent Night VIP Packages are available. They include excellent seats for the concert, entry to an intimate post-show cocktail with the performers, and unique gift bags. These packages can be obtained by making a donation of £500 to benefit cancer research through the Kate McGarrigle Fund.

For more information, call Cléa Desjardins at the McGill University Health Centre Foundation on 00-1-514-931-5656 or visit the A Not So Silent Night website at www.anotsosilentnight.net or email Clea at anotsosilentnight@gmail.com. This is organised by the McGarrigle/Wainwright family and friends, a supporter of Cancer Research UK.

Celebrities Donate Handbags To Charity Auction

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 13:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

The annual Handbag Amnesty Celebrity Auction to raise money for Cancer Research UK is on now, giving you the chance to bid on some unique handbags donated by some of today’s hottest stars.

Going under the hammer are bags belonging to Paris Hilton, Rachel Weisz, Rachel Bilson, Heidi Klum, Scarlett Johansson, Peaches Geldof and Alesha Dixon, all of whom have given up a favourite handbag from their personal collection. Even Alexander McQueen has donated.

All profits will go to Cancer Research UK – the largest single funder of breast cancer research in the UK – which spent £44million on groundbreaking research last year alone.

To view the items and take part in the auction – which runs until October 11 – visit the official website.

Katie Price Runs For Cancer Research

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 12:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

British glamour model Katie Price took part in a 10 kilometre charity run during the weekend.

Price was spotted running with new boyfriend Alex Reid in the fundraising event for Cancer Research UK in Brighton.

“Everyone knows someone who is affected by cancer so I wanted to do my bit to help the lifesaving work of Cancer Research UK,” she said. “I’ve been getting fit and running for several months and the Brighton and Hove Run 10km event is on my doorstep, so it seemed the perfect opportunity to take part. The sight of nearly 2,000 people all running together to help cure cancer is inspiring and I am proud to be part of it.”

The model ran the London Marathon in April to raise money for charity.

Paris Hilton Donates Handbag To Charity Initiative

Tue, 08 Sep 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Paris Hilton is the latest international celebrity to donate a designer handbag to the second annual Handbag Amnesty, a partnership between handbag.com, the home of fashion, beauty, hair and celebrity and Cancer Research UK.

Handbag Amnesty 2009, part of handbag.com’s dedicated Handbag Month, will take place throughout September, culminating in an exclusive handbag.com celebrity handbag auction from 2nd – 11th October, to tie in with breast cancer awareness month.

Paris Hilton has joined other A-listers including Rachel Weisz, Rachel Bilson, Heidi Klum, Scarlett Johansson, Peaches Geldof and Alesha Dixon, all of whom have given up a favourite handbag from their personal collection. Even Alexander McQueen has donated.

All profits will go to Cancer Research UK, the largest single funder of breast cancer research in the UK, having spent £44million on groundbreaking research last year alone.

Handbag Amnesty 2009 isn’t just about celebrity donations. Members of the public are also being asked to join in the fundraising by simply taking any unwanted handbag to their local Cancer Research UK shop. Handbags are one of the most popular items in Cancer Research UK charity shops across the country and sell like hot-cakes.

In return for donating their handbags and other quality used-goods, members of the public will be able to enter a draw to win a fantastic designer handbag to replace the one they have donated.

handbag.com Digital Publisher Sara Stephenson says: “Last year was such a success in terms of celebrity and public involvement, and thanks to the joint effort from handbag.com and Cancer Research UK, more than 20 celebrities have already donated to Handbag Amnesty 2009. At this rate we’re well on the way to beating last year’s target.”

Terry Mills, of Cancer Research UK, says: “We’re delighted to be working with handbag.com again after last year’s hugely successful campaign. If as many people donate unwanted handbags and bid in the celebrity auction this year, we’ll be able to raise even more to beat breast cancer. It is now the most common cancer in the UK and although more women are surviving than ever before, there’s still a lot to do.”

For a complete list of bags up for auction as well as more information on how to help, go to www.handbag.com/amnesty.

LTTS Exclusive: An Interview With Liz McClarnon

Thu, 03 Sep 2009 12:36:00 -0000

Written by Richard Barker

Liz McClarnon, best known as a member of Atomic Kitten, is also a very busy philanthropist, and Look To The Stars is offering fans the chance to bid on the T-shirt she wore during her recent charity run in London.

Between working on her solo career and making TV appearances – she recently won Celebrity Master Chef – Liz is still carving out time to support good causes.

I spent the day with Liz and her mother, Janet, while she was participating in Race for Life, joined by Belta Music teammates Jaime Jay and Kayney.

Over £1m ($1.6m) was raised during a truly awe-inspiring morning, when 17,000 courageous women ran to raise money for Cancer Research UK.

After the race, I asked Liz what motivated her to run the 5km event, and to support numerous other charities throughout the year.

What inspires you to support charities?

A lot of people rely on charities and need their support. Many more than you think. I try to support the causes that are close to my heart. My Grandmother’s care home was being closed down. I got involved with Help The Aged as a result of that. It motivated me to make a difference. I wanted to help people who were in a similar situation. We should be thankful for our past whilst working together to create a better future.

What does Race for LIfe mean to you?

It usually meant supporting friends through their experience of cancer and now it’s personal. I’m supporting my family. My mother, Janet, was diagnosed with cancer three weeks ago.

Are you involved with any other projects?

I’m involved with numerous projects and I’m supporting lots of good causes:

Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre (RASA ) in Liverpool — RASA is a service run by women for women. RASA provides support & counselling for women and girls who have experienced any form of sexual violence at any time in their lives. RASA also offers support and information to female friends and relatives of survivors.

Help the Aged – [this] is an international charity fighting to free older people from poverty, isolation and neglect.

I’ve donated the proceeds from Master Chef and Family Fortunes to charity.

I’ve also designed a best-selling T-shirt for Race for Life.

Liz’s unique T-shirt design has raised over £100,000 ($160,000) for Cancer Research UK, and is available for purchase online.

Liz has kindly given the autographed t-shirt she wore at Race for Life to Look To The Stars. For a chance to get your hands on it, visit our auction partners at Celeb2nds.com. All proceeds go directly to Cancer Research UK.

Cancer Research UK is the world’s leading charity dedicated to beating cancer through research into prevention, diagnosis and treatment. Cancer Research UK is at the heart of progress which has seen survival rates double in the past thirty years as more people beat cancer than ever before.

Race for Life is Cancer Research UK’s flagship event, which brings together thousands of women each year to walk, jog or run 5k and raise money to beat cancer. More than 735,000 women took part in Race for Life events across the country in 2009 and it is hoped over £60 million ($96 million) will be raised for Cancer Research UK’s life-saving work.

Check out the auction here.

Rufus Wainwright To Headline A Not So Silent Night

Thu, 27 Aug 2009 13:30:00 -0000

Singer/songwriter Rufus Wainwright will join his sister Martha Wainwright, Kate McGarrigle, family & friends for a charity show in London in December called A Not So Silent Night.

This special show will take place at the Royal Albert Hall in London, England on Wednesday, December 9th.

A limited number of exclusive A Not So Silent Night VIP Packages include excellent seats for the concert, entry to an intimate post-show cocktail with the performers, and unique gift bags are available. These packages can be obtained by making a donation of $1,000 CAD, $750 USD, or £500 GPB to benefit cancer research in Canada and the UK through the Kate McGarrigle Fund and Cancer Research UK.

For more information, call Cléa Desjardins at the McGill University Health Centre Foundation, toll-free at 1-877-601-4536 (1-514-931-5656 from outside North America), email clea.desjardins@muhc.mcgill.ca, or visit www.muhcfoundation.com/en/mcgarrigle.

The Kate McGarrigle Fund is a non-profit organization dedicated to cancer care and research and affiliated with the McGill University teaching hospitals and Cedars Cancer Institute in Montreal, Canada. Cancer Research UK is the world’s leading independent organisation dedicated to cancer research, and supports research into all aspects of cancer through the work of more than 4,500 scientists, doctors and nurses in the United Kingdom.

To find out more, click here.

Russell Crowe Continues Generous Streak

Wed, 29 Jul 2009 12:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

New Zealand-born actor Russell Crowe took a break from filming Robin Hood last week to visit a British charity shop and donate £1,000.

The 45-year-old had earlier shown his generosity when he gave a co-worker on his current film money to buy a new car after hers was destroyed. Now he took the time to visit a Cancer Research UK and talk to staff.

“We couldn’t believe it when Russell Crowe came in and gave us the money,” said a staff member. “We knew he was in the area and we were all hoping to see him, but we never thought we would get quite so close to him. We were all a bit star-struck, but it was lovely to meet him, and he stopped and took the time to speak to us.”

Last month, the actor gave staff at a Welsh pub a £600 tip.

“Now if anyone badmouths him I tell them to shut up,” said the bar staff. “He could have paid and just left, but they stayed instead and entertained us. Then he paid us that tip – it’s the last thing you expect. He seemed quite friendly and chatty like a really nice guy.”

Race For Life Raises Funds For Cancer Research

Tue, 21 Jul 2009 15:00:00 -0000

Written by Richard Barker

Look To The Stars writer Richard Barker recently took part in a special charity event in the UK and filed this report:

Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life is the largest women-only fundraising event in the UK. The race started in 2004 and has raised millions of pounds!

Women take part in celebration of surviving a cancer experience. Others take part in memory of a loved one or to give hope to a cancer-free future. Every pound raised in sponsorship goes towards Cancer Research’s vital work. This includes funding the work of over 4,500 scientists, doctors and nurses who are dedicated to fighting and beating Cancer.

These courageous women have helped to raise over £240 million. Race for Life events take place between May and July and are open to women across the UK. There is no prize for first place – you can walk, jog or run the 5k course.

I was proud to be asked to join Atomic Kitten singer Liz McClarnon and 17,000 other runners in Hyde Park. This was the first year that the event was held in this British park. Celebrities including Liz McClarnon, Gloria Hunniford, Linda Barker and Samanda joined thousands of female runners, joggers and walkers. They helped to raise over a million pounds.

“It’s a great privilege for me to be Patron of this event,” said Gloria Hunniford, TV personality and a radio presenter. Gloria lost her daughter Caron Keating to Cancer and has since launched the Caron Keating Foundation, which supports numerous Cancer charities throughout the UK. “I think that Race for Life is one of the most significant events of the year with women from all over the country raising so much money for vital and valuable research into Cancer. It’s an extremely emotional event with the majority of people walking, running or strolling in commemoration of someone that they have lost to Cancer or increasingly in celebration of someone who has managed to cope with and beat this hideous disease. Cancer now affects every family in this country. It’s imperative that we all do whatever we can, big or small to find a cure!”

Linda Barker participated in this race for the third time and said “It’s a unifying experience and the message is that no-one is on their own.”

Atomic Kitten and Celebrity Master Chef winner, Liz McClarnon, designed a limited-edition T-shirt for Race for Life. Sales have already raised over £100,000 for the fight against Cancer. Liz ran the race with fellow Belta Music team mates Jaime Jay and Kayney.

Be sure to check back here for an exclusive interview with Liz McClarnon and the chance to get your hands on a very special piece of memorabilia.

To find out more about Race For Life, visit the official website.

Rod Stewart To Attend Charity Busking Show

Wed, 27 May 2009 11:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Rod Stewart will attend a special busking show on board the HMS Belfast to launch this year’s Busking Cancer event.

The HMS Belfast is permanently moored on the banks of the River Thames near Tower Bridge in London. The concert will see Madness frontman Suggs join a host of performers on stage in support of the initiative, which will see street performers all over Britain donating their takings to Cancer Research UK.

“When it comes to busking, I’m your man,” said Stewart, who survived thyroid cancer. “That’s how I started in the early 60s on the streets of Paris. So the idea of Busking Cancer has my support. It’s what music is all about just getting out there and singing or playing for the sheer joy of it. And if you can earn a few quid for Cancer Research UK – a few quid that might just help to save someone’s life – what could be better?”

The HMS Belfast concert will take place on June 20, and Busking Cancer will run until June 27. For tickets to the show, click here.

Celebrities Run For Charity In London Marathon

Mon, 27 Apr 2009 15:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Tens of thousands of people pulled on their running shoes and sweated their way through the annual London marathon yesterday, including a number of celebrities who were competing for charity.

Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay was one of many who lined up at the start for his 10th time at the event. He ran once again for the Scottish Spina Bifida Association, an organization that supports, listens to and helps children, adults and families with spina bifida, hydrocephalus and related conditions.

“It’s time for a celebration,” he said. “We’re fighting a global credit crunch, and in terms of coming out and having fun, it costs nothing to come and watch.”

Also competing were British model Katie Price and husband Peter André, who ran for children’s charity Vision and the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children.

“I don’t think you can ever be prepared for the marathon,” said Price, who raised over £250,000 for her charity. “It’s not a normal distance to run.”

“We’ve done the training,” added André. “Physically we may be up for it but I think psychologically is where we struggle.”

Other celebrities to take part included Boyzone singers Keith Duffy, who ran for autism awareness, and Ronan Keating – who ran for Cancer Research UK – as well as British cyclist Chris Boardman, who won gold in the 1992 Olympics and ran for The National Autistic Society, and weather girl Isobel Lang and 2002 Big Brother winner Kate Lawler, who competed for Cancer Research UK.

Last year’s event raised £46.7 million for charity.

Rod Stewart Supports Charity Busking

Wed, 22 Apr 2009 13:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Rod Stewart is encouraging performers to take to the streets and raise money for a cancer research charity.

The 64-year-old has been made a patron of Cancer Research UK’s Busking Cancer 2009, an event that will take place in the UK from June 20-27.

“When it comes to busking, I’m your man,” he said. “That’s how I started in the early 60s on the streets of Paris. So the idea of Busking Cancer has my support. It’s what music is all about just getting out there and singing or playing for the sheer joy of it. And if you can earn a few quid for Cancer Research UK – a few quid that might just help to save someone’s life – what could be better?”

Last year’s Busking Cancer event – in which street performers from a wide range of genres donated their takings to Cancer Research UK – was a huge success. Fronted by Madness frontman Suggs, the event featured celebrities such as Sandi Thom.

“If you love music, busking is the perfect way to fundraise,” said Suggs. “You get to do what you enjoy and people love to stop and listen. You decide what you sing, where you play and when you do it. You can go it alone or hook up with other bands for a bigger, organized event. The important thing is that you take part, raise some money and of course – have some fun.”

For more information about the event, see the official website

Edit: Sandi Thom did not perform in 2008, but expressed her official support for the event.

David Beckham Gives The Shirt Off His Back To Cancer Charity

Mon, 16 Feb 2009 15:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Football superstar David Beckham has donated the shirt in which he made his record-equaling 108th England cap to charity.

The number 17 shirt will be auctioned on behalf of The Bobby Moore Fund, a fund set up in association with Cancer Research UK to raise money for research into bowel cancer in memory of footballer Bobby Moore, who lost his battle to the disease in 1993.

“It was a very, very generous gesture,” Stephanie Moore – Bobby’s widow – told BBC Radio 5 in the UK. “That shirt is of great emotional value to David. It was very kind and generous of him to donate it to the charity so we can auction it to raise funds for dedicated bowel cancer research – the disease that killed Bobby so young.”

Beckham played 45 minutes in a match between England and Spain last week, equaling Moore’s record number of games. He has the chance to become the most capped player for England in a game against Slovakia next month.

Information on how to bid for the shirt will be released on the Bobby Moore Fund website.

Paul Weller To Headline Cancer Research Gig

Wed, 04 Feb 2009 12:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Musician Paul Weller will play a special charity gig in London later this month.

The former frontman of The Jam and Style Council will join Lemar and singer songwriter Paulo Nutini at Cancer Research UK’s ‘Sound and Vision’ event at London’s Abbey Road studios on February 26.

“I’m proud to be associated with this event and to be supporting Cancer Research UK’s amazing work,” said Weller.

As previously reported by Look To The Stars, the event will feature champagne and canapés, access to the recording studios where The Beatles recorded, a stunning exhibition and auction of images featuring iconic musicians by famous photographers, the opportunity to purchase a piece of music history in a live auction – featuring an Epiphone guitar signed by Paul Weller, ex-Guns N’ Roses guitarist Slash, Queen’s Brian May and former The Darkness guitarist Justin Hawkins – live performances, and the chance to rub shoulders with celebrity guests.

More information about the event, including how to purchase tickets, can be found here.

Visit Abbey Road Studios To Benefit Cancer Research

Tue, 06 Jan 2009 15:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Cancer Research UK has announced February 26 as the date of their annual Sound & Vision event at Abbey Road Studios in London.

Although full details have yet to be released, the event will feature champagne and canapés, access to the recording studios where The Beatles recorded, a stunning exhibition and auction of images featuring iconic musicians by famous photographers, the opportunity to purchase a piece of music history in a live auction, live performances, and the chance to rub shoulders with celebrity guests.

Patrons of the event include legendary Beatles producer George Martin and Whispering Bob Harris. Last year’s event raised over £160,000 for vital cancer research with live performances by Beverley Knight, 10cc and The Brand New Heavies and auction items such as a one-off Rickenbacker guitar designed and signed by R.E.M’s Peter Buck and handwritten lyrics from Bryan Ferry. Photos from the event can be viewed here.

Tickets for the event will be available soon, and more information can be found here.

Terry Pratchett Knighted, Robert Plant Becomes A Commander

Thu, 01 Jan 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Several of Britain’s most charitable celebrities were honored by the Queen in her New Years Honors List yesterday.

Led Zeppelin singer Robert Plant became a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for services to music. Plant reformed the 70s rockers for a one-off gig in London in 2007 to benefit the Ahmet Ertegun Education Fund, which provides students with annual scholarships to universities in the U.S, U.K. and Turkey. The organization was established by the late Ahmed Ertegun, co-founder of Atlantic Records.

“During the Zeppelin years, Ahmed Ertegun was a major foundation of solidarity and accord,” said Plant, now 60. “This performance stands alone as our tribute to the work and the life of our long-standing friend.”

Also honored by the Queen was Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton, who is involved in a number of charities, including Cancer Research UK and Honeypot. He was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE).

But the biggest honor went to Fantasy writer Terry Pratchett, who was knighted by Her Majesty. Sir Terry was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease in 2007, and has since donated over a million dollars to the Alzheimer’s Research Trust and has dedicated his life to funding a cure for the disease.

“There are times when phrases such as ‘totally astonished’ just don’t do the job,” he said of his knighthood. “I am of course delighted and honored and, needless to say, flabbergasted.”

The honor has been supported by groups that have benefited from Pratchett’s involvement.

“I would like to congratulate Terry on this fantastic and well-deserved achievement,” said Neil Hunt, chief executive of the Alzheimer’s Society. “Terry is not only a successful author and well-loved public figure; he is also playing a key role in fighting the misunderstanding and stigma surrounding dementia.”

Tom Jones Hits The Streets For Charity

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 13:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

London’s office workers got the surprise of their lives on Wednesday, November 19, when they were treated to a performance by Welsh crooner Sir Tom Jones.

The 68-year-old was busking outside the Royal Festival Hall to raise money for Cancer Research UK as part of the BBC Two Culture Show’s Busking Challenge, which sees leading acts perform in public places for charity. Buckets were passed round the 1,000 people who gathered to watch the 15 minute set, with £460 being raised.

“This is the first busking I have ever done,” he said. “This is for cancer research.”

Accompanied by an acoustic guitar, Jones performed his greatest hits It’s Not Unusual and Green Green Grass of Home, plus his own version of Jerry Lee Lewis’ hit Great Balls Of Fire.

Big Stars Support Cancer Research UK’s ‘Little Stars’

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 13:00:00 -0000

Written by Delinda Lombardo

Celebrities and athletes are lining up to support cancer research via a remarkable program which urges relatives and friends of young cancer patients or survivors to nominate their young heroes for recognition as a ‘Little Star.’

Lewis Hamilton, Leona Lewis, Dr Who actor David Tennant, Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas and Britain’s Got Talent winner George Sampson are all supporting the campaign to find “Little Stars” from across the region who have courageously battled against cancer.

The Little Star Awards are given out by Cancer Research UK and partner TK Maxx. There in no panel of judges awarding Little Star’s because they believe each and every child who confronts cancer is extra special. This means that everyone nominated will receive a £100 TK Maxx voucher, a chrome trophy and a certificate signed by celebrities from TV, music and sport.

Jane Redman, Cancer Research UK spokeswoman for the West Midlands, said: “The Little Star Awards are now in their sixth year and allow us to recognize the unique challenges faced by youngsters diagnosed with cancer and salute their courage. We are delighted that recipients will this year have £100 to spend on toys, books or fashion as part of TK Maxx’s wider commitment to supporting children with cancer.”

Jo Murphy, TK Maxx’s head of corporate social responsibility, said: “The Little Star Awards are a fantastic way of recognizing the courage of children who face a diagnosis of cancer and the support they receive from families and friends. We’ve supported Cancer Research UK since 2004 and are very pleased to be involved this year.”

The awards are open to children under-17 who have cancer or have been treated for the disease in the last five years. To nominate email littlestar@cancer.org.uk or visit www.cancerresearchuk.org/littlestar.

College Students Stage Celebrity Shoe Auction

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 13:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

A host of celebrities are baring their soles in a charity auction organized by college students in Scotland this week.

Robin Williams, Daniel Radcliffe, Zoë Wanamaker, Ewan McGregor, and Elton John are among the stars to donate their footwear to One Step Beyond, a charity made up of staff and students of Angus College at Arbroath.

The 19 pairs of shoes will be on auction until October 19, and proceeds will go to organizations such as Cancer Research UK, Cash for Kids, No More Landmines, and the Angus College Charitable Trust.

“The very first pair of celeb shoes that we got in were from Sir Elton John and he very kindly donated his 1975 original stage shoes to us, which are really quite fantastic so we’re hoping to get good bids for them,” said auction organizer Kay Gilmour. “As well as that we’ve got shoes from [”Andy Murray":http://www.looktothestars.org/celebrity/1859-andy-murray], footballers’ boots such as Barry Ferguson’s, and Stephen Fry gave us his hairy monster slippers. We also have shoes from the US – we’ve got Robin Williams’ hand-made gold trainers which he signed for us and we’ve got Emma Thompson, who gave us a beautiful pair of Jimmy Choo shoes, which she wore when she was launching her movie Nanny McPhee in the States. We also have Jo Brand’s smelly plimsolls – as she calls them, not us – and a whole range of other stuff."

Last year, students at the school created a three-mile line of shoes and then donated all 20,000 pairs to charities in Africa.

The auction can be accessed through eBay.

Handbag.com Launches Handbag Amnesty

Thu, 04 Sep 2008 13:30:00 -0000

www.handbag.com and Cancer Research UK have announced a new partnership with the launch of the first ever Handbag Amnesty.

Taking place throughout the month of September – www.handbag.com’s dedicated handbag month – and climaxing in October, the Handbag Amnesty will give women across the country the opportunity to bid for the designer handbag of their favourite celebrity including, just to name a few, Keira Knightley, Sienna Miller and Dame Shirley Bassey, to raise money to help beat cancer.

www.handbag.com and Cancer Research UK are asking celebrities to make space in their wardrobes by donating one of their designer handbags to the Amnesty. The bags will then be auctioned on eBay from Friday 3rd – Sunday 14th October to tie in with Breast Cancer Awareness month. Open to everyone, all proceeds will go to Cancer Research UK, the largest single funder of research into breast cancer, one of the most common cancers in the UK.

Some of the other celebrities who have donated handbags are America Ferrera, Annie Lennox, Ashlee Simpson, Geri Halliwell, Dame Judi Dench, Maggie Gyllenhaal and Scarlett Johansson.

The Handbag Amnesty, however, is not just about celebrities. www.handbag.com and Cancer Research UK are also asking members of the public to donate a handbag that is still in good condition to their local Cancer Research UK shop. Good handbags always sell like hot cakes in Cancer Research UK’s nationwide chain of charity shops.

Claire Higgins, Head of Marketing at www.handbag.com, says: “As the leading lifestyle website for women in the UK, we are in the unique position of being able to reach more than 1.5 million women across the country. 44,000 cases of breast cancer are diagnosed every year in the UK so we are very proud to be working with Cancer Research UK to help make a difference – not only by raising a lot of money to fund research into preventing breast cancer, but also by helping to raise much needed awareness of the illness.”

Paul Farthing, Director of High Value Relationships at Cancer Research UK, says: “We’re delighted to be working with www.handbag.com to launch Handbag Amnesty. The auction of celebrity handbags will be an exciting way to raise funds for our vital research into breast cancer. We also hope that by encouraging supporters to donate their own favourite handbag, and other unwanted quality items to our shops, we will be able to raise even more to help beat cancer.”

For more information and a full list of celebrities taking part, please visit www.handbag.com/amnesty

Sandi Thom Shows Sunbed Danger

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 11:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Scottish singer Sandi Thom is taking part in a shocking new advertising campaign to warn youngsters of the dangers of sunbeds and skin cancer.

Cancer Research UK has published a series of photos of the singer depicting how Thom could look through overexposure to UV rays, which the charity said in some sunbeds can be 10 to 15 times higher than those of the midday sun. The images show severe skin damage in the singer, which could be caused by overexposure to UV from sunbed use or regular sunbathing.

“I’m in a state of shock at the thought of looking like this at 57 is terrifying,” said 27-year-old Thom. “Having seen these images I can honestly say I am never going to use a sunbed again. You can so easily get brown from a bottle these days, there is just no point in ruining your looks and risking skin cancer by using sunbeds. I hope the horrible image of me will make other young people think twice before they next use a sunbed.”

The images can be seen at the charity’s SunSmart website.

Sugababes To Headline Charity Concert

Fri, 08 Aug 2008 12:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

British girl group the Sugababes are part of a special charity gig in England this weekend.

The ’Babes will headline a two day festival in Dagenham on Saturday night, and will be followed by classic rockers Status Quo on Sunday night. Also performing will be the Bay City Rollers and David Essex.

The festival will benefit Cancer Research UK and St Dunstan’s – a charity helping blind ex-servicemen.

“The last couple of weeks have been absolutely amazing,” said artistic director Rob Ferguson. “The sun has come out. It’s made a huge difference to sales. We do have the ability to expand past 10,000 [ticket sales]. We’ll keep pushing to the end – we have a 20,000 licence. Every penny is for charity. There is no profit whatsoever.”

Tickets are available through www.ticketmaster.co.uk.

Buskers Joined By Stars For Charity

Mon, 04 Aug 2008 12:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Chart-topping Scottish singer Sandi Thom is among a group of performers supporting what is expected to be Britain’s biggest busking – or street performing – event.

A variety of musicians and street performers will take part in a nationwide busking event next month in aid of cancer research. Busking Cancer will run from September 6-13, and all money raised will go to Cancer Research UK. Thom – who hit the charts in 2006 with I Wish I Was A Punk Rocker and has just released her second album, The Pink And The Lily – will be joined by a Johnny Cash tribute act from Glasgow, an all-girls school in London, a man who plays the shawn – a medieval instrument that sounds like the bagpipes, a Fleetwood folk club, a circus performer, a little boy from Milton Keynes who recently lost both his great grandparents to cancer, and Suggs – lead singer for British ska band Madness.

“Playing music is such a joyful thing and it’s the soundtrack to all of our lives,” said Suggs, whose hits include Our House, It Must Be Love, and House of Fun. “I’m lucky enough to make my living from it but many people just play for the sheer fun of it. That’s the joy of busking – you can just stand up and sing or play anywhere. People love to stop and listen. And to do it in aid of Cancer Research UK – to help anyone whose life has been touched by cancer – is just fantastic. I’d urge everyone to get out on the streets of Britain from September 6 to 13 and have one big party. Have some fun – and raise some money that might just help save someone’s life.”

Sandi Thom is equally excited to be involved.

“Busking Cancer is fun, young and positive,” said the 26-year-old, whose latest hit is The Devil’s Beat.

The busking events will run all across Britain for a week.

Coronation Street Stars Play For Good Causes

Mon, 04 Aug 2008 11:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Coronation Street fans are in for a nice surprise – stars from the long-running British soap have just filmed a special celebrity episode of Who Wants to be a Millionaire for charity.

Jennie McAlpine, who plays Fiz Brown, and Samia Smith, who plays Maria Connor, joined Sally Whittaker (Sally Webster) and Michael Starke (Jerry Morton) for the first episode of the new series of the popular game show, each representing a charity close to their hearts.

“It’s much harder answering the questions in the studio than at home,” said McAlpine, whose father is the chairman of her chosen charity, Mood Swings Network. “You can be absolutely certain of an answer but still have doubts.”

Her partner in the quiz hot seat – Samia Smith – was hoping to hit the jackpot for Cancer Research UK in the first of three ITV1 celebrity charity specials, with Whittaker representing ActionAid and Starke playing for Zoe’s Place Baby Hospice in Liverpool.

“You only get one chance in the hot seat and it’s even more nerve-wracking when you’re playing for charity,” said McAlpine. “We’ve also had to keep quiet about how much we raised since filming it. There are so many people who need the unique support Mood Swings gives. That was the whole point of going on the program.”

Coronation Street is one of the longest running television shows in Britain, with its first broadcast almost 48 years ago. The Who Wants to be a Millionaire special will screen on ITV on August 16.

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