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Written By GingersnapComments Off on Podcast Guests: Damian and Helen Discuss FeedNHS Efforts on The Coronavirus Newscast – April 9, 2020
The Coronavirus Newscast
by Gingersnap | damian-lewis.com | April 9, 2020
Every day, Adam Fleming, Laura Kuenssberg, Fergus Walsh and Chris Mason bring us the latest on the coronavirus pandemic in the UK via the The Coronavirus Newscast. They discuss the latest public health information and how it is affecting our lives. On Thursday, April 9, 2020 Damian and Helen were guests on the podcast to share with listeners about their #FeedNHS campaign and their efforts to feed frontline heroes, hospital staff.
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Written By GingersnapComments Off on Damian Lewis Leads Restaurant Campaign to Feed Health Workers – April 9, 2020
Coronavirus Appeal With Leon Restaurants Will Supply 6,000 Meals a Day
by Richard Vines | Bloomberg | April 9, 2020
The actor Damian Lewis initiated a campaign with the Leon healthy fast-food group to raise £1 million ($1.2 million) to feed National Health Service workers partly to overcome a feeling of helplessness he felt under lockdown.
The FeedNHS campaign, in alliance with Leon co-founder and chief executive John Vincent, is currently serving about 5,200 meals a day to critical-care workers at London hospitals and aims to reach its initial goal of 6,000 daily meals sometime next week. The campaign has support from restaurant groups including Wasabi, Tortilla, Peach Pubs, Rosa’s Thai, Hop, Pizza Pilgrims, Franco Manca, Farmer J, Tossed, Haché, Abokado, Dishoom and Nusa Kitchen.
“Helen (McCrory), my wife, and I have friends who are in quite senior positions in the NHS and the clarion call kept coming from everybody that it was difficult to get fed during the day and do you have any influence?” said Lewis, whose awards include an Emmy and a Golden Globe for his performance as Nicholas Brody in the TV series “Homeland.” Most recently he’s starred as a hedge fund manager in “Billions.”
Lewis and McCrory, who appeared in the Harry Potter movies and “Peaky Blinders,” are in touch with Vincent daily after reaching out via a mutual connection. The aim is simple, Lewis says:
“When you have done four hours straight, working ventilators in PPE (personal protective equipment) gear, you can walk out and someone will hand you a hot, healthy meal,” he said. “We all want to do something that can help. Staying at home is an odd feeling, like being under house arrest, feels cowardly, oddly, even though it is the most important thing you can do.”
Lewis said he’s been experiencing a range of emotions during the coronavirus lockdown in a telephone interview from his home in Suffolk, in the east of England:
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Written By GingersnapComments Off on FeedNHS Update – April 8, 2020
Thanks a Million!
by Gingersnap | damian-lewis.com | original April 8, 2020 (updated April 24)
We reported earlier that Damian, Helen, and Matt Lucas had partnered with John Vincent of LEON Restaurants to feed NHS workers during the CoVid-19 crisis.
FeedNHS is campaigning to raise as much money as possible for NHS Trusts to get hot, healthy meals to NHS teams on the front line. They are starting their initiative with the hardest-hit London hospitals trusts Imperial, UCHL, Royal Free and St Barts, but they want to go further and take this nationwide.
And now, FeedNHS has become the fifth largest crowdfunding appeal on JustGiving raising over $1.1m (£1m). The campaign has reached more than 100% of the £1,000,000.00 target (£1,171,495). Initially providing 5,000-6,000 meals a day to hospital staff, FeedNHS now estimates it has the funds to serve up to 25,000 hot meals per day across 55 hospitals for the next six weeks, and looking to expand locations from London to Brighton, Birmingham, Cardiff and Manchester. Damian was quoted in Birmingham Live saying,
“But it means we can now kick in with a second round of funding – which is essentially what we are trying to do – in order to take it to Birmingham, Cardiff and Manchester, because the virus will move through those city centres.”
In addition, The Press and Journal reported that FeedNHS has teamed up with Mealforce, BaxterStorey, Feed Our Frontline and charity NHS Helpforce to tackle the task in pledging to serve hospital sites in Aberdeen, Edinburgh, and Glasgow. But they want to keep going, as more funding is needed to add an extra 15,000 meals a day and to extend provision beyond six weeks, providing 600,000 more meals. You can help feed NHS workers one hot, healthy meal a day here.
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Written By GingersnapComments Off on Coping With CoVid-19 Crisis: Damian and Helen on Feeding Health Workers After Filming Halted – April 6, 2020
Helping Others: First Parking, Then Pizzas, Now FeedNHS.com
by Jake Kanter | Deadline | April 6, 2020
As coronavirus crashed through the TV business, husband and wife Damian Lewis and Helen McCrory were among those cast adrift. Lewis was making Season 5 of Billions, while McCrory was on the brink of going into production on Season 6 of Peaky Blinders. Now, both are holed up in their British countryside home in Suffolk. But far from quietly riding out the COVID-19 tsunami, the pair have leashed an anchor of sorts and are using their platform for a much-needed mission to feed frontline healthcare workers in the UK.
McCrory said she spent one-day doing hair and makeup and tests for Peaky Blinders, during which it dawned on much of the production team that “something very big is coming.” She explains: “The next morning I woke and told my producer I’m not comfortable doing this anymore… Cillian Murphy did the same. Together with the producers, we approached the BBC and said we’re going to pull this now before we have to do this down the line.” Production was halted on March 16, a mere three weeks ago. “That all seems like a very different world at the moment. Terribly unimportant,” McCrory reflects.
The couple turned to their friends in the National Health Service and asked where they could help. Their initial idea was to cover parking fines for the nurses and doctors who were getting caught out on long shifts, but the government soon moved to waive parking fees for health care workers. The next idea came from Bob Klaber, who works at the Imperial College Healthcare Trust in London. “He said the real problem is food,” recalls McCrory. With staff canteens in hospitals either not existing or shutting down, and nearby eateries closing amid the country-wide lockdown, some NHS employees were running on empty. Lewis and McCrory seized on Klaber’s idea and started getting pizzas delivered to intensive care units. The efforts were greeted by “lovely photos of smiling faces,” but it quickly became apparent that they needed something more sustainable — and nourishing — for those fighting coronavirus.
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Written By GingersnapComments Off on Damian and Helen on BBC Breakfast – March 30, 2020
FeedNHS Campaign Continues
by Gingersnap | damian-lewis.com | March 30, 2020
Damian and Helen appeared on BBC Breakfast this morning, Monday, March 30, 2020 to continue to share their FeedNHS effort. They, along with Matt Lucas, have partnered with LEON Restaurants, plus many other restaurant chains, to help support the NHS by ensuring all critical care hospital staff get one hot meal a day. Right now FeedNHS plans to serve 6,000 hot meals a day and they are hoping to go Nationwide! Help get healthy hot food directly to the front line heroes by making your donation to LEON here or the crowdfunding Just Giving page here.The campaign has already earned 55% in donations of the £1,000,000 target. Watch them on BBC Breakfast below:
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Written By GingersnapComments Off on Damian and Helen Launch FeedNHS on Good Morning Britain – Mar 27, 2020
Live From Suffolk In Their Jammies
Damian and Helen are doing everything they can to help while in quarantine like the rest of us. Damian, Helen, and Matt Lucas have partnered with LEON Restaurants, plus many other restaurant chains, to help support the NHS by ensuring all critical care hospital staff get one hot meal a day. Right now FeedNHS is serving 5,600 hot meals a day and they are hoping to go Nationwide! Help get healthy hot food directly to the front line heroes by making your donation to LEON here or the crowdfunding Just Giving page here, and watch their launch on Good Morning Britain below:
An evening of poetry inspired by the great city of London was read by Damian, Helen, Mona Arishi, Theresa Lola, Yomi Sode and OnSide young poets in support of the Lord Mayor’s Appeal for Samaritans helpline, OnSide Youth Zones, and Place2Be, investing in youth and children’s mental health. The event was held at the Mansion House on Tuesday, November 26, 2019 from 6:30-8:30 p.m.
View the rest of the photos from the event in our Gallery here
Win lunch for two with cast of Band of Brothers in Los Angeles. All proceeds support injured Veterans via @homesforourtrps. You and a guest will have the opportunity to break bread and enjoy riveting conversation in one of LA’s favorite restaurant establishments with the following cast members:*
Colin Hanks
Scott Grimes
Ron Livingston
Ross McCall
Frank John Hughes
Jimmy Madio
Rick Gomez
Richard Speight Jr
Damian Lewis
Michael Cudlitz
Neal McDonough
Dale Dye
*Names are subject to change
The experience includes lunch for you and your guest on a mutually agreeable date. Must be used within 12 months of the auction. No age restrictions. Click here to bid.
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Written By GingersnapComments Off on Damian and Helen Enjoy Evening at the Theatre – Sept 29, 2019
Cracked: Mental Illness and Addiction
by Gingersnap | damian-lewis.com | September 29, 2019
Damian and Helen were in attendance for One Voice: Cracked on Sunday, September 29, 2019 at the Old Vic Theatre in London. Despite an apparent injury with her arm in a sling, Helen performed on stage as Damian supported from the audience.
Comedian, writer, actor and presenter Russell Brand curated the evening described as a night of seven one-off solo performances written in response to the growing conversation and changing attitudes around mental health and addiction.
One Voice is a series of newly written monologues, spoken word and song from leading writers and performed by acclaimed actors – theatre in its rawest form. Without scenery, costume, and with nothing to rely on but words, One Voice reminds us what a single voice can do.
Performers included Russell Brand, Scarlett Curtis, Mr Gee, Denise Gough (People, Places & Things, Angels in America) and Helen McCrory (Peaky Blinders, MotherFatherSon), with music from multi award-winning trumpeter Alison Balsom.
Writers for Cracked were Russell Brand (Recovery: Freedom from our Addictions, Re:Birth); Scarlett Curtis (Curator of Feminists Don’t Wear Pink & other lies and It’s Not Ok to Feel Blue & other lies, co-founder of Pink Protest); Lena Dunham (Girls, Not That Kind of Girl); Mr Gee (Rhyme & Reason, ‘Poet Laureate’ on The Russell Brand Show); Dr. Gabor Maté (In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts: Close Encounters with Addiction); Matthew Perry (The End of Longing, Friends) and Kate Tempest (The Bricks That Built the Houses, Let Them Eat Chaos).
To view more images, please visit our Gallery here
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Written By GingersnapComments Off on BGC/GFI Charity Day 2019 – Sept 11, 2019
On the Trading Floor for CureEB and Sir Hubert von Herkomer Arts Foundation
by Gingersnap | damian-lewis.com | September 11, 2019
Damian makes trading look easy as he participates in the 15th annual BGC Charity Day 2019 on Wednesday, September 11, 2019 in London, England for CureEB and the Sir Hubert von Herkomer Arts Foundation.
First up was GFI Charity Day where Damian hit the trading floor for CureEB. CureEB is passionate about medical research and clinical trials that will help lead to treatments and a cure for Epidermolysis Bullosa, a severe genetic skin condition that leads to blistering and skin loss at the slightest friction. Children with the condition are often referred to as ‘Butterfly Children’ as their skin is said to be as fragile as a butterfly’s wings.
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Written By GingersnapComments Off on Damian Scheduled for Annual BGC Charity Day – Sept 4, 2019
Charity 9/11 Fundraising Event
by Alice Scarsi | Daily Express | September 3, 2019
According to the Daily Express, Damian is scheduled to attend a charitable event to raise funds and pay tribute to the victims of the 9/11 terror attack with a host of A-listers including Prince Harry and Tom Hardy. If that’s the case, Damian will have a busy September 11, as he’s also scheduled to attend his Damian Lewis: Spy Wars advanced screening and Q&A that evening.
It will be the 18th anniversary of the devastating September 11 terror attacks in the US. The Duke of Sussex has also been confirmed among the guests of the BGC Charity Day 2019, an event organised by global brokerage and financial technology company BGC. The BGC event will take place at the trading floor at BGC Partners in Canary Wharf, London.
Other charity ambassadors attending include Tinie Tempah, Common, Tim Peake, Alan Carr, Harry Kane, Mauricio Pochettino, Eion Morgan, Frank Bruno, David Haye, Gabby Logan and Jamie Redknapp.
Shaun D. Lynn, President of BGC Partners, said the charitable event is taking place on September 11 to remember BGC’s 658 colleagues and the 61 Eurobrokers employees who died in the terror attacks.
Read the rest of the original article at Daily Express
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Written By GingersnapComments Off on Damian on Guitar for Red Nose Day
You Make My Dreams Come True
by Gingersnap | damian-lewis.com | May 23, 2019
Earlier we reported here that Damian would be making an appearance for this year’s Red Nose Day Special. Enjoy the episode’s highlight by watching the entire video of all the celebrities performing “You Make My Dreams” by Hall & Oates. Here he is…Mr. Damian Lewis on guitar for Red Nose Day. Watch full video here.
