VIVIENNE WESTWOOD AND HUBBY ANDREAS INSPIRED AFTER KENYAN VISIT

World-renowned fashion design team Dame Vivienne Westwood and husband Andreas Kronthaler were inspired to be part of Zeitz Foundation as Ambassadors after a visit to Kenya in June.

“My trip to the Zeitz Foundation headquarters in Segera, Kenya this year inspired me, as did their projects and dedication on the ground,” said Vivienne. “The Foundation is driven by implementing a holistic paradigm that balances conservation, community development, culture and commerce, and I am excited to lend my support to their community development activities.”

“We try to embrace The Long Run philosophy of acting today for a better tomorrow in our daily life”, said Andreas, “and this ties in to Vivienne’s idea that people should buy less and choose well.”

In a statement Jochen Zeitz, founder of the Zeitz Foundation and CEO Sport & Lifestyle Group and Chairman of the Board of PUMA said: “I am very pleased that Vivienne Westwood and Andreas Kronthaler, who are so influential in the world of fashion, are adding their voices to those of our other Ambassadors in support of a fundamental shift towards more sustainable lifestyles.”

Jochen continued: “Vivienne and Andreas bring a wealth of experience and dedication to our work and I look forward to their ongoing contributions to the Community side of our activities”.

The couple join athlete Usain Bolt, who is the Zeitz Foundation Ambassador for Culture (Sport) and entertainers Amadou & Mariam, Ambassadors for Culture (Art) among others.

ASAMOAH GYAN AND TEAMMATES TO PRACTICE IN KENYA

 

Asamoah Gyan together with the finer than frog hair, mackable teammates Ghanaian National football team will be in the country for a week training for the Ghana-Sudan friendly match.
I'm told they will be training in Naivasha - where they normally train at when they are in the country - and will be staying at the Winsor Resort and Golf Club.
Anyhow, Gyan tweeted about it today.

Some stats about Gyan

1. He is 26 years old
2. Plays for the Ghana national team and now plays as a striker for Premier League club Sunderland. 
3. He became a prominent player in the 2010 World Cup after scoring 3 goals during the tournament but he made a mistake when failing to kick a penalty goal against Uruguay in the quarter-finals. 
4. Gyan likes to wear the number one jersey number "3"‘, when he joined the club Sunderland at the moment he took back the number "33".

VAMPIRE DIARIES STAR DESIGNS TEE FOR KENYAN CHARITY

 Vampire Diaries actress Nina Dobrev has designed a t-shirt to raise funds to feed children in Kenya. Sporting the tee that reads "Hunger Bites," Nina told Hollywood Life, the proceeds from the t-shirt will help feed 6,500 children at a school in Kenya.
"No one should go hungry because, quite frankly, hunger bites," Nina said, "And I'm not just saying that because I'm on a vampire show."
 The 22-year-old who is an ambassador for Free The Children, has been to Kenya before in 2008 together with her co stars in the TV show Degrassi to build a school in Oloomirani in Narok.
Free The Children is the world's largest network of children helping children through education, with more than one million youth involved in our innovative education and development programs in 45 countries.






Founded in 1995 by international child rights activist Craig Kielburger, we are a charity and educational partner that believes in a world where all young people are free to achieve their fullest potential as agents of change.

The organization has received the World's Children's Prize for the Rights of the Child (also known as the Children's Nobel Prize), the Human Rights Award from the World Association of Non-Governmental Organizations, and has formed successful partnerships with leading school boards and Oprah's Angel Network.

HOLLYWOOD - NOLLYWOOD MOVIE BLACK GOLD TRAILER IS OUT!

The movie by Nollywood actor-director Jetta Amata that features to Hollywood actors has released the trailer actually it was released a while back, i just saw it.

The movie titled Black Gold is about the conflict in the Niger Delta that arose in the early 1990s over tensions between the foreign oil corporations and a number of the Niger Delta’s minority ethnic groups who felt they were being exploited, particularly the Ogoni and the Ijaw.
Black Gold is an epic film about environmental justice and the fight over the control of the scarce oil resources that the world runs on. The line between good and evil is blurred as corrupt government officials, greedy oil companies and violent rebels go on a war path over oil spills and degradation of the land caused by oil exploration. Starring Billy Zane, Mbong Amata, Hakeem Kae Kazim and Sarah Wayne Callies.

REALITY SHOW FOR UNIVERSITIES LAUNCHED

Elsie Akoo from JKUAT University and Qabale Duba of KEMU University receive a symbolic leadership torch from, Daniel Maanzo Cooperative Secretary and Nelson Kuria

A new reality show that will feature 24 university students dubbed The Expedition was launched on July 20.
The show is expected to feature two students from each university from varying universities countrywide.
The 13-episode show, sponsored by CIC Insurance Group is a culmination of Sh40 million-worth youth campaign aimed at attracting the youth to join the co-operative movement.



I’m a Co-operator project which is expected to enlist 500,000 youth into the Kenyan co-operative movement is a run up to 2012 which was declared by the UN General Assembly as the International Year of Co-operatives.
“Though the Co-operative movement has been a great tool for economic emancipation, the youth have widely shunned the movement owing to the perception that it is a preserve of the old folk,” said Nelson Kuria, the Managing Director CIC Insurance Group.
Speaking on Behalf of the Minister for Co-operative Development and Marketing, Dan Maanzo, the Secretary at the Ministry said, “We now need young and transformative leadership within these co-operative organizations to create a new impetus for growth and inculcate the culture of corporate governance that will unleash the sector’s potential,” said Maanzo.

BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL PRODUCER TO HOLIDAY IN KENYA

Six-time Daytime Emmy Award winner Bradley (Brad) Phillip Bell is expected in Nairobi on July 26 for a short stop over before he and his family go on safari. Brad is the executive producer and head writer of the most watched daily dramatic serial in the world, The Bold and the Beautiful.
The 47-year-old is married to Colleen Bradley Bell and is the proud father of Bradley Chasen, Caroline Catherine, Charlotte Cordelia and Oliver Phillip.
Their holiday plans are been kept close to their chests however, as you all know, you cannot holiday in Kenya without visiting the Maasai Mara.



Anyhows, Brad has been instrumental is The Bold and the Beautiful’s success. Under his leadership, the show vaulted from the sixth-rated daytime drama to the third-ranked series during the 1992-1993 season.



Today, The Bold and the Beautiful is firmly established as the second-ranked daytime serial under its sister show, The Young and the Restless in the United States of America. The show is the most watched daytime drama series in the world, seen daily by more than 35 million people in over 100 countries.

CANADIAN GOSPEL ARTISTE FOR KENYAN YOUTH SUMMIT

This past Friday (July 22), Canadian gospel artiste, Ghanaian royalty and philanthropist Kay Moris jetted into Nairobi for the three day Change Africa Youth Summit that took place at USIU.
The event organized by the PLO Lumumba Foundation saw Kay speak about her involvement with children and women on the African Continent as she is the African representative for children and women in the One Heart Beat Movement of the United Nations.
Kay’s journey to becoming a humanitarian started through her music. She is a multi-faceted person, functioning in many capacities as a church Minister at Light and Life Ministries, Benevolent Queen (installed Queen Nana Sika I of the Royal House of Berekuso, Ghana in September 2006), an accomplished singer/song writer, Gospel music Hall of Famer, fashion designer, humanitarian, and motivational speaker. This versatile multi-award winning internationally acclaimed reggae Gospel artiste is also the President of the Kay Morris Foundation (KMF) in Canada and Ghana respectively.
Her advocacy work as a humanitarian has seen her blazing a new trail as the Voice of the Voiceless for orphans and people living with HIV/AIDS and Malaria in Africa, the Caribbean and other parts of the world.

The 2011 summit will expose over 200 youth and young professionals from around the world to the intricacies of youth leadership such that they are well equipped to contribute to the transformational agenda in both the corporate and political arenas in their various communities.

Other speakers at the conference included Prof. PLO Lumumba Director Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission, Hon. Lazaro Nyalandu Asst. Minister Trade and Industry Republic of Tanzania, Kennedy Hongo, Former Deputy Director Starehe Boys Centre, Hon. Cecily Mbarire Asst. Minister Ministry of Tourism Kenya and Pastor Esther Obasike of Redeemed Christian Church of God Nairobi.

THE SORCERER’S APPRENTICE STAR SHOOTS DOCUMENTARY IN KENYA

Teresa Palmer who is known for her role in the movie The Sorcerer’s Apprentice beside Nicholas Cage was in Kenya where she shot a documentary for a British Charity.
The 24-year-old Hollywood starlet is producing a documentary on happiness. She told US press, the documentary will follow a group of orphan children who, despite their trials, remain remarkably positive.



“We are just going to let the kids run the documentary,” she says. “We want them to talk to us about what makes them happy – just a study on why so many people from third-world countries seem to be able to find the happiness that is missing in a lot of people’s lives in more privileged countries like America and Australia.”

MAGICAL MAGYARS WINS BRAZIL TOUR OF THE GUINNESS FOOTBALL CHALLENGE

The Nairobi Central team carries the day at the Guinness Football Challenge Wednesdays Grand Finale as Team Tai FC misses the prize by two points.
Team Magical Magyars are the winners of the Guinness Football Challenge grand finale. The team emerged top after a fiercely contested national grand finale TV game show aired on TV.
The team of six members namely, Mohamed Boru (team captain), Albert Gicheha, Arnold Njue, Joseph Indagasi, Michael Kirwa and Malcolm Ngugi sailed to the top after facing tight competition from nine other teams from various zones across the country to win the top prize of a fully paid tour of Brazil, courtesy of Guinness.
The football quiz competition hosted by Maina Kageni was launched in April this year with the aim to give football fans a platform to engage, have fun with friends and ignite the passion for the world’s most favourite sport and since its launch, the number of participants was amazing as football fans turned up in large numbers in the 100 participating pubs, not only for entertainment but also win prizes with most of them targeting the top prize of the Brazil tour.



The six are tight friends and great soccer enthusiasts. They are a great combination of brains of both students and professionals in various disciplines. With Mohammed Boru working at The Kenya National Human Rights Commission, Arnold Njue an I.T specialist, Joseph Indangasi a Business Analyst, Albert Gicheha an accountant, Malcolm Ngugi a law Student at the University of Nairobi and Michael Kirwa an industrial Chemistry student, they believed they had what it takes to go all the way to the finals.
They are very passionate about football and sports and they have participated in other quiz competitions as a team among them the Zain Africa Challenge. They often go out together to watch football matches and that’s how they formed the team to participate in the Wednesdays quiz competition “We realized we stand a better chance of winning if we joined hands as each of us has a different strength we could put together” Said Mohamed
In the first round of elimination, Team Westy FC from Eldoret zone and Team Green goes FC of Nairobi West were eliminated after getting the lowest number of points. In round two four teams including Team Havas from Kisumu zone, Team Wailers of Nakuru zone, Team Power FC from Meru zone and Team Simba Mbili from Thika zone were eliminated after failing to identify the players in the picture question.
Team Twanga Pepeta from Coast Zone and Team Dubai FC from Nairobi South zone failed to keep up with the pace in the skills challenge where teams were supposed to test how well they can handle the ball in different positions. This gave team Magical Magyars of Nairobi Central and Team Tai FC from Nairobi Eastlands an opportunity to reach the finals where one of them would win the top prize of the fully paid Brazil tour.



Magical Magyars had their moment after answering five questions correct in the final penalty shoot out round beating Team Tai FC 5-3 to qualify as the winners. This was a big blow to Team Tai FC as they hoped to win the top prize after the team got position one national with 801 points to qualify for the finals.
Speaking after the show, Team captain of Magical Magyars Mohammed Boru said his team had finally hit the target as that was what they had aimed to achieve since they started participating in the competition. “Winning the top prize is a culmination of lots of effort, team work and passion for football, we are proud of ourselves both as individuals and as a team” said Mohamed.
According to Mohamed, winning did not come easy for the team “it has been ten weeks of sacrifice, I had to make sure all the team members turn up for the quiz night every Wednesday at Tacos Club and at times it meant forgoing other activities and meetings with friends. We ensured that every week we scored some points for our team to ensure we were the team to represent Nairobi Central zone in the finals”



Speaking moments after the show, Guinness Brand Manager Agnes Kinga said “This has been a fantastic end of the Guinness Football Challenge Wednesdays quiz Competition; the teams have displayed great skills and passion”.
The team is scheduled to leave for Brazil in September for a six day tour courtesy of Guinness.

ARE YOU THAT SOMEBODY? MTV SHUGA LOOKING FOR RISING STARS

The upcoming production of Shuga: Love, Sex, Money, the award-winning sex-and-relationships HIV and AIDS TV drama will give twelve Kenyans an opportunity to learn from expert film makers and public health practitioners. Under the Rising Stars initiative, young Kenyans aged between 18-24 will gain valuable experience.



Running alongside a six-month Theatre and Film course offered by the NYTA, twelve young and talented Kenyans will be selected to work across key disciplines associated with the production of Shuga: Love, Sex, Money, including Acting, Directing, Producing, Cinematography, Marketing and Public Health. Each participant will split their time between individual coaching sessions with a dedicated mentor, shadowing their mentor as they go about their duties on the set of Shuga: Love, Sex, and Money, and learning additional life skills at the NYTA.



To apply to participate in the Rising Stars programme, applicants must complete the online application form at www.mtvshuga.com from July 7, 2011. Applicants should be Kenyan residents, aged between 18-24 and should be out of full-time education. Applications open July 7, and close on July 17; the mentees will be notified by August 1, 2011. Shuga: Love, Sex, Money goes into production in Kenya between August-September 2011.



Commented Alex Okosi, Senior Vice President & Managing Director, MTV Networks Africa, “We are thrilled that this mentorship programme will empower Kenyan youth by developing their talents and deepening their insights into the media industry while working on one of the most exciting TV franchises in Africa.”
Commented Georgia Arnold, Executive Director, MTV Staying Alive Foundation: “This mentorship programme takes Shuga to a whole new level by immersing young Kenyans in the creative process of making a TV series which combines entertainment with high production values and serious messages about the HIV epidemic.”



‘Identifying, nurturing and providing opportunities for young talented individuals in the field of film production, public health and marketing communications is one that we are excited about,’ said Lydia Murimi, HFG/K Country Director. ‘The partnership, championed by PEPFAR, with NYTA and MTV Networks, has brought about an additional component with mentors who will give their time, expertise and support. Imparting these job skills to the next generation is a start, and in the next generation we hope that it will continue to be passed on. This is the start. It’s a great beginning.’

BERLIN-NAIROBI ALBUM TO LAUNCH THIS MONTH

Nazizi

The idea ‘Berlin meets Nairobi’ was the brainchild of Goethe-Institut Nairobi and electronic music duo Gebrüder Teichmann. It was embodied in a Berlin-Nairobi musical collaboration.


Teichmann

The product of which is a music album that features Kenyan and German artistes. In the Kenyan corner are rappers like Nazizi, Abbas Kubaff, Kimya, Lon Jon, electropop band Just A Band, blind singer/guitarist Michel Ongaro and the Ukoo Flani Mombasa clique.


Abbas Kubaff


Ukoo Flani

From Berlin, Modeselektor, the hyperactive breakbeat-duo, curious electronic producers Gebrüder Teichmann and Jahcoozi, the multicultural star trio composed of Dubstep, Grime Rave and hyper-sonic Electronica.



Jahcoozi

The group of artistes stayed in an apartment in Nairobi, where everyone in the project worked, performed and lived together in the house the christened Mad House. The result of their hard work is the album BLNRB - Welcome to the Madhouse. It is set for a July 8 release.



Have a look at the tracklist

01. Abbas, Kimya, LJ, Teichmann - Goldbreaks Variation
02. Nazizi, Jahcoozi, Abbas - Madhouse
03. Teichmann, Abbas, Kimya, LJ - Dirty Laundry
04. Jahcoozi, Ukoo Flani - Msoto Millions
05. Necessary Noize, Teichmann - Very Necessary
06. Just a Band, Jahcoozi - Room For Me
07. Jahcoozi, Ukoo Flani, Radi - Ma Bhoom Bhoom Bhoom
08. Teichmann, Alai K - Everyday Without You
09. Teichmann, Ukoo Flani, Dogs - Living Room
10. Modeselektor, Nazizi, Abbas - Monkeyflip
11. Teichmann, Kimya, LJ, Abbas - Goldbreaks
12. Jahcoozi, Little King, Robo - Take It Higher
13. Jahcoozi, Michel Ongaro, Abbas - Kumbuka
14. Teichmann, Ukoo Flani - Richie Interlude
15. Massai Mbilli, Modeselektor, Just a Band - Kibera Benga
16. Just a Band, Jahcoozi, Teichmann, Michel Ongaro - Away
17. Jahcoozi, Ukoo Flani - Zamaney
18. Teichmann, Ukoo Flani - Whateverman Dub

CHANGING TIMES’ KEVIN MAMBOLEO IN CONTINENTAL MOVIE

KTN’s Changing Times actor Kevin Mamboleo has bagged a staring role is a feature-length film currently been shot in South Africa that also features top African actors.
The movie titled Inside Story is produced by South Africa-based Curious Pictures and directed by Rolie Nikiwe (Tsha Tsha, The Lab, Intersexions).



Kevin stars as Kalu, a gifted footballer who moves from rural Kenya to urban Johannesburg to follow his dream. His path becomes more challenging when he falls in love with the coach’s daughter, Ify (Kendra Etufunwa), and also finds out he is HIV positive.





Kevin and Kendra are joined by internationally celebrated stars including Hakeem Kae-Kazim (Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, Hotel Rwanda, 24) as Kalu’s mentor and tough-as-nails coach, Fana Mokoena (Blood Diamond, Hotel Rwanda) as the ruthless team owner, and Kenyan Regina-Re as Kalu’s mother, Miriam.




Inside Story will demonstrate the science of how HIV works in a personal, practical and memorable way, replacing misunderstanding with facts and demystifying the virus through a realistic animated journey inside the human body.



After production is complete, a comprehensive rollout of the film will include national broadcasts across sub-Saharan Africa and distribution through grassroots efforts of NGOs, schools and governments. The feature-length film, produced with the support of PEPFAR, Chevron, Discovery Communications, The South African Department of Trade and Industry, Access Bank and SEACOM.

HARRY PORTER¹S EMMA WATSON WAS IN KENYA

In a recent interview with online entertainment site Gather Celebs News Channel, Harry Porter star Emma Watson dishes on holidaying in Kenya and getting “recognised” while here.
There is no mention however, of where or when she was in the country. Anyhow, the article reads:

Emma has even been recognised while travelling in Bangladesh and Kenya, so are there moments when she wishes she was "normal"? She said: "I have moments, but I think it's more like, 'I wish things were more simple. Why does everything have to be so complicated and why do I have to think everything through so much? Why can't I have more freedom, privacy, etc?' "But that's just when things get hard, then the grass is always greener."

Emma has filmed a Marilyn Monroe biopic, My Week With Marilyn, and is currently shooting The Perks Of Being A Wallflower.

VIVIENNE WESTWOOD WAS IN KENYA FOR BUSINESS

Last month, famed international designer Dame Vivienne Westwood was in the country to announced that she is expanding her business in Kenya. This is her first trip to the continent and that she found her Kenyan trip extremely worthwhile. She spent four days in Nairobi before traveling north to Laikipia; a journey she says has changed the way she thinks about fashion.
The London-based designer, once famous as the queen of punk is now respected around the globe. What most impressed her in Kenya was the opportunity to harness fashion as a vehicle out of poverty, without compromising on either quality or the exceptional creativity that has won her brand loyal fans worldwide.



Dame Vivienne traveled to Kenya on the invitation of the UN agency, the ITC (International Trade Centre) to see where some of her designs are being made thanks to Ethical Fashion Africa Ltd (EFAL). Ethical Fashion Africa is a social enterprise, based in Nairobi, coordinating the work of community screen-printers, bead makers, tailors, metal-workers and weavers.



Dame Vivienne visited the Ethical Fashion Hub at the Godown Arts Centre in Nairobi’s Industrial Area. She was so impressed with the production facilities; she increased her order for the next season. On the spot, Dame Vivienne and world famous photographer, Juergen Teller, decided to use the Godown Arts Centre as one of the locations for the next Vivienne Westwood international advertising campaign, starring Kenyan supermodel, Ajuma, alongside local discoveries, Elsie and Sonnietta.



The Autumn/Winter 2011 campaign is styled by African Woman Magazine’s Fashion Director, Olive Gachara. “It was a once in a lifetime experience,” says Gachara, who accompanied Dame Vivienne to other locations including Ngong Hills, Kibera and Korogocho, which the international designer found diverse and extraordinary.
Ethical Fashion Africa works with hundreds of marginalised communities, mostly groups of disadvantaged female artisans; to produce fashion using environmentally sustainable materials. These include cotton canvas, woven plastic bags, recycled brass and more.



These communities are not only urban. Dame Vivienne and her team headed north to rural Laikipia as guests of the Zeitz Foundation, an initiative following the ‘Four C’ mantra of Conservation, Commerce, Community and Culture. One of the Zeitz Foundation’s goals, conservation, is achieved by involving far-flung local communities including the exceptional Samburu and Turkana beaders. Dame Vivienne devoted her time to capacity building workshops where she not only shared her skills but learnt from her encounter.

FLINTSTONES IN KIKUYU, HEHEHE!

This is super hilarious watching Fred Flintstones and Barney Rubble going on and on about dogs. *DEAD!*

PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA ENJOYS A GUINNESS IN HIS ANCESTOR’S LOCAL PUB

As part of his much awaited visit to Ireland, the US President Barack Obama stepped into his one of his ancestor’s local pub, Ollie Hayes’ bar in Moneygall Co. Offaly, where he was welcomed with a perfectly served Guinness.
The US President visited the town, as part of his visit to Ireland, to meet his distant relatives and see the house that they grew up in.
A special delivery of a keg of Guinness was made earlier this week by Guinness Master Brewer, Fergal Murray in anticipation of the President’s visit and much to the delight of bar owner Ollie Hayes and all the locals who joined him at this momentous occasion, President Obama accepted the warm welcome by sampling the Guinness.
John Kennedy, Managing Director of Diageo Ireland said; “Today marks a fantastic day for Ireland when we welcome US President Barack Obama into Ireland for the first time. What a great occasion also for the President who has had the opportunity to meet his ancestor’s. It is a real honour that he chose to savour a Guinness as part of his journey back to his Irish roots, which truly marks an occasion that will be remembered by people all over the world for generations to come”.
Also speaking today bar owner Ollie Hayes said “We have been waiting in hope for this very day and I can say that it is without doubt one of the proudest days of my life. It’s not every day that the US President drops by our bar for a Guinness! We are going to talk about this day for ever more.”

CNN INTERNATIONAL WINS AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL FOR KENYAN STORY

CNN International has won the Amnesty International Media award in the ‘International Television and Radio’ category for its documentary, 'World’s Untold Stories: Locked Up and Forgotten', it was announced at the awards ceremony in London.
The winning half-hour documentary, fronted by CNN’s Nairobi-based correspondent David McKenzie, highlights the negligence and social taboos suffered by Kenya’s mentally disabled community, who live a life hidden away in slums and remote villages across the country. Devoid of medical care and therapy an estimated three million mentally disabled individuals are ostracised by society, concealed and locked away inside their own communities, often by their own families.
When first aired on CNN International the documentary sparked widespread debate, bringing the plight of Kenya’s mentally disabled to the forefront of the world’s media. This resulted in domestic and international human rights groups calling for government intervention. The matter was brought to the attention of the Kenyan government, who have called for change.
The Amnesty International Media Award jurors praised the programme for being “moving yet constructive.”
“It's fitting that the Amnesty International logo is a candle because it is an honour and a privilege to be awarded this prize for a documentary that shines a light on the shocking state of mental health in Kenya and beyond," said McKenzie.
"David McKenzie took an unknown story and brought it to the attention of the world, testament that hard hitting journalism can incite global change,” executive vice president and managing director of CNN International Tony Maddox said of the award. "It is an honour to have your journalism recognised by Amnesty International as powerful enough to truly make a difference."
The award is the World Untold Stories documentary strand’s second win in the ‘International Television and Radio’ category since it first aired on CNN in 2009. In 2009 the strand took the award with The Forgotten People for its expose of the on-going persecution of the ethnic Rohingya people in their bid to escape terrible privation in Myanmar, formerly Burma and in neighbouring countries.

LORRAINE KELLY NAMED CHARITY AMBASSADOR AFTER KENYAN TREK

UK TV personality Lorraine Kelly has become a Sightsavers International Ambassador, after she experienced the charity’s work preventing blindness and restoring sight in the deserts of Northern Kenya.
Lorraine first supported Sightsavers, which works in more than 30 developing countries, through its World Sight Day campaign in 2010. In February 2011 she took part in the 100km BT Red Nose Desert Trek across Northern Kenya, witnessing Sightsavers’ work in the area and helping to raise more than £1.3 million for the charity through Comic Relief.
Lorraine says: "What really struck me about Sightsavers is that for a small amount of money you can transform someone’s life – taking them from the misery of blindness to a future of independence, often for as little as £5.
“I’m honoured to become an Ambassador for the charity and hope that I can help spread the word about the amazing work they do in the developing world and in turn give the gift of sight to people who are suffering needlessly. It’s shocking to think that there are 45 million people in the world who are blind – but 80% of that blindness can be prevented or cured.”



Lorraine has already helped Sightsavers recruit walkers and cyclists for the Martin Currie Rob Roy Challenge, encouraging people to take part in the 55 mile Scottish fundraiser based on her experience of the charity and the trek. Sightsavers is one of three charities to benefit from the event, which takes place in the Scottish Highlands on 18 June 2011.
She said: “On the trek, when times got tough, I reminded myself that people in the developing world are going blind needlessly. Together we can stop that from happening. Your blisters will heal soon (I promise!) but the impact of what you’re doing will last a life time.”