Popular TV and stage actor Simon Shepherd of Peak Practice fame will this week receive a cheque for £3,000 from the international charity Midwives Information and Resource Service (MIDIRS) on behalf of the 'Work a Miracle' AIDS appeal run by Christian development agency Tearfund.
Shepherd, well known for his role as Dr Will Preston in TV's Peak Practice, agreed to support the Tearfund appeal, which aims to raise £60 million for HIV and AIDS-related work by 2015.
"As a father I know how important it is that children have the best possible start in life. But AIDS is a massive challenge to this, particularly in Africa, where thousands of babies are being born with HIV. But this can be prevented," said Shepherd.
"While money can't buy miracles, it can buy clinics, education, orphan care and provide counselling and testing - all things that go a long way to preventing children suffering the effects of HIV. That's why I am pleased to add my support to the Work a Miracle appeal."
Shepherd will join Vicky Carne, MIDIRS Head of Midwifery, Hilary Field of Tearfund, and other officials, on Wednesday 7 February 2007 when he receives the £3,000 cheque from MIDIRS towards Tearfund's campaign. The event will take place at Bristol's Old Vic Theatre where Shepherd is currently starring in Ibsen's Ghosts.
MDIRS first came to hear of the devastating AIDS epidemic sweeping across Ethiopia through an article in Metro newspaper.
