Joanna Lumley shows support for Byte Night

News 2009-10-02 17:24

Actress Joanna Lumley is backing tonight’s Byte Night event to raise awareness of youth homelessness.

Channel Pro’s sister titles IT PRO and Know Your Mobile are taking to the streets tonight to raise money as part of Byte Night's efforts for Action for Children.
After weeks of preparation, fundraising and office bake sales, members of staff from IT PRO and Know Your Mobile are taking to the streets to take part in Byte Night - raising money for the homeless children's charity Action for Children.
The volunteers will be spending tonight sleeping rough in central London to get a taste of what it is like for these kids every night of the week. The difference is they are lucky enough to get to go home the next morning.
Every little helps with this charity so please put your hands in your wallets and donate anything you can by following this link.
Meanwhile, crusading campaigner Joanna Lumley today described youth homelessness as “a stain on our society” as she threw her support behind Byte Night.
The actress spoke out as she donated one of her own drawings to an Action for Children auction which charts her changing career from playing Purdey to Patsy. Fans will be able to bid for picture titled: Only Fifteen Years: Mind How You Go at Byte Night tonight.

Celebrities including Michael Fish, Jenny Agutter and BBC journalist Ben Brown will also join more than 700 business, City and IT executives from companies such as BT, Dell, Barclays, Nokia, Ernst & Young, HP and Citrix in a sponsored ‘sleep-out’ on the streets of some of the UK’s major cities.

Other celebrities donating lots to the auction include Sir Ian Botham, dancer Karen Hardy, boxer David Haye and chef Richard Corrigan. Gabby Logan and Kirsty Gallacher have also sent messages of support. Ben Brown from the BBC will join proceedings.

Says co-founder of Byte Night Ken Deeks: “The problem of youth homelessness is not going to go away, and it only gets worse in a recession. Support is more important now than ever and I’m thrilled so many celebrities have given their time to help our campaign. My thanks goes out to them and everyone involved in Byte Night.”