A WOKINGHAM actor is one of a group of performers all using their voices to raise money for a major UK cancer charity.
It’s a fundraising project that should appeal to people who love audiobooks.
Borough performer Michele Wood is just one of the 173 performers and celebrities who have joined together to support Cancer Research UK by recording part of Lewis Carrolls ‘Alice Through the Looking Glass’.
Recording one minute of the story each, they have created an audiobook which is being released one chapter at a time as a series of podcasts, in December.
Among the celebrities taking part are Phyllis Logan, Downton Abbey’s head housekeeper Mrs Hughes, and Pirates of the Caribbean star Kevin McNally.
Michele Wood said: “it’s such a wonderful way to raise money for an important cause, and with the combined efforts of so many talented actors we really hope we can make a difference and inspire people to donate towards the prevention and treatment of cancer, which affects so many people’s lives every day.”
The project has been steered by three-time cancer survivor Brad Shaw from Chiswick, West London.
He was first diagnosed with stage three malignant melanoma, followed by prostate cancer.
In April this year, the skin cancer returned, for which he has recently completed treatment.
Following his first diagnosis Brad came up with the idea of ‘The Wonderland Challenge’, inviting fellow actors to record an audiobook of ‘Alice in Wonderland’ to raise money for the NHS.
Among those taking part were actors Michael Palin, Dame Juliet Stevenson, Ruth Jones and Dame Harriet Walter.
Now, nearly three years later, Brad, 59, is about to launch The Wonderland Challenge 2, Alice Through the Looking Glass, audiobook, to raise money for Cancer Research UK.
Brad said: “I’ve had cancer three times now but I’m alive and cancer free.
“I decided to repeat the Wonderland project as my way of saying thank you for the treatment I’ve had, and to everyone who has helped save my life, three times now.
“This time I have split the book into 174 one-minute chunks with every actor, voice actor or celebrity recording one minute each, and donating at least £10 to Cancer Research UK.
“I’m really grateful to Michele and all the others involved for their time and support.”
Donations have already reached nearly £5,000 and Brad is hoping there is much more to come, with a new chapter being released every two days until Friday, December 22.
Cadena Sampson, Relationship Executive for Cancer Research UK, said: “We’re delighted Brad is putting all this time and energy into the Wonderland 2 project to raise money for Cancer Research UK.
“We’re also really grateful for the voice actors involved in this project.
“It’s supporters like these who will help us make those desperately-needed breakthroughs in the future.
“Our goal is to find better and kinder treatments for all types of cancer.”
To see some of the posts actors taking part have made, visit the group’s wonderlandchallenge2 Facebook page.
To donate to Cancer Research UK: fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org and for more information, log onto: www.wonderlandvo.com/challenge
