Christian Aid week Fundraising Drive Starts in Splendor

Known to be the longest established and most successful door-to-door fundraising program in UK, Christian Aid's annual fundraising drive has gained the support of stars.

Backed by stars including comedian Harry Enfield, Coronation Street's Suranne Jones and actor and playwright Kwame Kwei-Armah, the aim is to breakthrough last year's total £4.3 million.

The week will be also supported by national print and television advertising calling on the public to 'Help people in the third world stand on their own two feet.'

There are wide range of choices for the public to participate in the event, for example, holding a sponsored event, making a donation in the famous red envelope or logging onto www.caweek.org to see the latest movement.

A new Christian Aid Week site www.lifeswitch.org which is expected to be launched in April will enable the web users to understand the life of those countries.

All the celebrities are energetic in doing their bit to make a difference.

Suranne Jones, Coronation Street's Karen Macdonald called, "If everyone who watches Coronation Street, gave just a pound for Christian Aid Week, it could help millions."

Writer and star of Casualty Kwame Kwei Armah passed on his message of encouragement,"You can do it! I don't think you can wake up in the morning and think 'I am going to change the world' but what you can say is 'I'm going to do my bit and if I can do the best that I can do, and I do it right, people will follow' I think we can all make a difference."

The annual Christian Aid Week's theme is "We believe in life before death" It will run from 9th to 15th May 2004. Christian Aid will be calling on people across the UK to help give desperately poor people all over the world the chance of a better future.

A statement from Christian aid said, "By supporting Christian Aid Week you will be among millions of people who think poverty is a scandal that we do not have to accept. Your actions, commitments and contributions will help to bring about a better life for people living in poor communities by helping Christian Aid in its work with its 600 local partner organizations in more than 50 countries worldwide. We believe life is for living, not merely surviving."