TV Star Supports Tearfund AIDS Appeal

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.

Tearfund's appeal is closely aligned to MIDIRS own mission to assist health professionals in providing mothers and babies with the best possible care. MIDIRS was moved to show its commitment to the cause by donating £3,000, and making a pledge to help raise awareness of the plight of Ethiopian mothers and children to its worldwide network of healthcare professionals.

Ms Carne said: "MIDIRS is delighted to support Tearfund's life-changing 'Work a Miracle' campaign. The statistics make very difficult reading and are heart-wrenching, yet a very modest sum of money, £7 a month, can give a baby the chance of beginning its young life free from HIV infection.

"MIDIRS is totally committed to raising awareness of the difficulties being experienced by HIV-positive mothers in Ethiopia, and we hope that our subscribers will equally embrace this cause and lend their support."

It is estimated by Tearfund and MIDIRS that at least 200,000 HIV positive mothers give birth in Ethiopia each year while more than 60,000 babies were born HIV-positive last year. At present, one in three infected mothers will pass HIV on to their newborn child, yet a few simple measures can reduce this risk to five per cent. Two doses of medicine - one for the mother before labour, and one for the baby after birth - can dramatically reduce the chances of HIV passing through the blood.

MIDIRS has committed to raising awareness of the level of poverty experienced by many in Africa and raising awareness of the great need for one-off or regular donations in order to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV.

Tearfund is one of the UK's leading relief and development agencies, working in partnership with Christian agencies and churches around the world to tackle the causes and effects of poverty. It has a vision to stop the spread of HIV in the poorest places where it works by 2015.

• £7 a month could give a child the chance of an HIV-free start in life, by testing mothers and providing counselling and crucial information
• £17 a month could train a group of churches to prevent HIV, car for orphans and support those affected by AIDS
• £51 a month can teach a whole community about HIV-breaking down fears and stigma and teaching safer cultural practises

To see how you can further support the work of Tearfund, visit www.tearfund.org