Actor auctions dinner with him at charity fundraiser

CHRISTOPHER Biggins auctioned a dinner for six with himself for £1,500 at a charity fundraiser.

It was one of several prizes that were auctioned at the Diwali dinner dance held at Phyllis Court Club in Henley, which raised £41,500 for the HOPE foundation, which supports children in Kolkata.

The actor also announced a surprise £10,000 donation from the Michael Josephson Charity Ball, which he had attended in Manchester a week beforehand.

The guests dressed in colourful Indian attire and enjoyed drinks and a meal before listening to speeches from the charity’s trustees.

Biggins, who is an ambassador for the foundation, said: “Hope is a brilliant title for our charity. We take children off the streets, we look after them, we educate them, we feed them and we give them hope.” He visited Kolkata in 2013 to see the charity’s work first-hand.

Biggins said: “Children spend all day on rubbish heaps, going through this terrible, filthy rubbish looking for bits of silver paper, little bits of nothing really, to make some money to live that day.

“A lot of children are maimed because they’re better begging on the streets if they haven’t got an arm or a leg or whatever. It’s just awful what they do and terrifying.

“But we can help. We give them hope as unfortunately the people of India that could give them hope don’t because they’re more interested in flying to the moon for some unknown reason.”

The charity was set up in Ireland in 1999 by Maureen Forest after she returned from travelling in India.

Trustee Shiuli Davis, from Henley, said: “She went out to Kolkata and saw the sad situation with the street children and decided she was going to do something about it. She has never looked back since.”

Today the charity has 12 protection homes for street-connected children as well as for young mothers and children, those escaping violent and sexual abuse, children of sex workers and children with HIV.

The charity also runs education programmes and offers vocational training and has an emergency response unit.

Ms Davis, who was born and raised in Kolkata, said: “HOPE means an awful lot to me. It ignited everything that was in my DNA. The charity spoke to me basically. I’m completely invested in it.

“I have met quite a few entrepreneurs and they’re all from business and have made their money but to me, the real entrepreneurs of life are the street children of Kolkata.

“Theirs is the decision they have to make when they wake up hungry and cold in the morning with maybe a parent that’s left them out or who has to do other things, like cleaning or prostitution. They have to decide whether they need to beg, steal or scavenge that day.”

Ms Davis thanked Biggins and the entrepreneur and philanthropist Reza Beyad, who is also an ambassador of the charity.

She said: “I’m ever so grateful because without you promoting the cause of HOPE, especially in the UK, we wouldn’t be in the situation we’re in now. I have to say a special thank-you to all our supporters.”

HOPE joint executive Maura Lennon, who flew from Ireland to attend the event, said: “You can read the literature but, honestly, to actually to be there on the ground, on the streets, in the slums… you know, it gets under your fingernails.

“Every one of your senses is assaulted and it’s a challenge physically and psychologically but it’s still an incredible experience. These children have been very traumatised. Imagine leaving a three-, four- or five-year-old on the streets of Henley, or London, to fend for themselves with nothing to eat, with no means of survival.

“It’s not right and that’s where HOPE steps in.

“I’m always in awe and proud of our team in Kolkata because we have more than 550 Indian staff who are implementing our programmes.

“They’re the real heroes — we’re handmaidens on this side. They are highly professional, qualified, educated people, doctors, nurses, educators, social workers, psychologists and counsellors.

“They’re just the most wonderful people and they keep the show on the road. We’re so proud of them.”

The dinner for six with Biggins at the Ivy in Marlow was won by David Lewis.

Other auction prizes included golf weekends in Northumbria and Ireland, a Copas turkey, a week’s holiday in Portugal and a stay in a restored Romani gypsy wagon.

A raffle featured prizes including meals at the Bistro at the Boathouse in Station Road and Villa Marina in Thames Side as well as donations from La Medusa hairdressers in Station Road and Bunkers Opticians and Nails Deluxe in Duke Street.