Harry Potter star, Mark Williams, has recorded a video message calling on the public to support the Save Acorns Black Country Hospice Appeal by donating to their local Acorns Children’s Hospice shop – revealing that he’s also looking for a yellow 70s corduroy cap.
Speaking in the video, the Bromsgrove born actor, who can often been seen perusing the rails in Acorns Moreton-in-Marsh shop in the Cotswolds where he films the BBC1 drama Father Brown, called on the public to support the charity by going to their local Acorns charity shop.
Mark, star of BBC Birmingham’s Father Brown series, said: “Acorns Children’s Hospice in the Black Country is facing closure and needs to raise £2 million. We can either run around going: ‘Oh my god, what have they done to us?!’ Or, we can do something about it.
“A very pleasurable thing to do about it is, go to an Acorns Charity shop – the one in Moreton-in-Marsh I’m very familiar with…I rarely go in without taking something out!
“So, you could shop, or you could donate. And don’t just take any old tat, you know, make it count. And, if anybody has got one of them yellow, kind-of beige corduroy hats they used to wear in the 70s – I’m looking for one of them. Please help!”
Mark’s video comes hot on the heels of a number of high profile messages of support for Acorns and the charity’s Save Acorns Black Country Hospice Appeal, including Dame Julie Walters DBE who plays Mark’s screen wife, Molly Weasley in the Harry Potter films, This Morning presenter Alison Hammond and Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi.
Gary Pettit, Acorns Head of Retail, said: “With over 50 Acorns shops across the West Midlands, there’s bound to be one near you – so if anyone out there has a vintage 70s corduroy cap in yellow or beige please drop it in so that we can pass it on to Mark. Let’s see how many we can get! And of course, don’t forget to bring any other donations that will help us raise money for the Black Country hospice.”
Acorns network of charity shops across the West Midlands help raise vital funds towards the £10 million the charity needs to raise every year to care for life limited and life threatened children and provide support for their families.
Gary added: “We’re grateful to Mark, not just for his continued support of Acorns through his regular visits to the Moreton shop but also in helping to draw attention to how important our shops are in generating much needed funds towards the running of our services for children and families.”
The Save Acorns Black Country Children’s Hospice Appeal was launched by Acorns on the back of significant new funding locally and nationally from the NHS.
The appeal sets out to raise £2 million to towards the Walsall hospice – which the charity had proposed for closure – until the full amount of new Government funding is reached. If the appeal is successful, it will lead to the closure proposal being withdrawn completely.
For more information, visit www.acorns.org.uk/appeal
ENDS
Photo credit: Mark WIlliams as Father Brown. The Bromsgrove born actor is supporting Save Acorns Black Country appeal.
A full list of celebrity endorsements is attached separately.
For more information or for interview, photograph or filming opportunities, contact the PR and Communications team:
David Chamberlain: 01564 825020 / 07817 612422 / david.chamberlain@acorns.org.uk
Nicki Robinson: 01564 825062 / 07814 302153 / nicki.robinson@acorns.org.uk
Notes to editors:
Due to the sensitive nature of Acorns care services it refrains from using the words ‘terminal’ or ‘terminally ill’ in its press releases and public communications when describing the children who use Acorns and the conditions that they have. Instead, Acorns uses the words ‘life limited’, ‘life limiting’, or ‘life threatening’. Acorns kindly requests that you respect this in your communications when referring to Acorns Children’s Hospice. Acorns children have a lot of living to do. Thank you.
- It costs £27,000 every day to run Acorns services providing care for children and support for their families. The charity relies heavily on donations to fund the majority of its activities.
