9:08am Friday 26th June 2009
ARTWORK from Bolton stars will go on display in an online exhibition as part of a project to highlight the plight of disadvantaged children.
Boxer Amir Khan and actress Shirley Anne Field have donated pictures which illustrate the personal journeys they have made to become successful.
The pictures are intended to show how vulnerable children undergo transformations in their journeys through life.
Shirley, who has appeared on stage and screen for more than 50 years, grew up in Crowthorne National Children’s home in Edgworth, and she said she owes her success to the upbringing she received there.
She said: “When, in my early 20s my name was in lights all around Leicester Square, I knew it came from the encouragement I had received from Sister Nancy Goodridge at the home.
“When I cried for my family, Sister Nancy told me that one day I would show them all, and this was my way.”
Her picture shows a young girl outside a children’s home and her journey to the glitzy Leicester Square box office.
Amir’s picture shows him as a nervous youngster cowering in the corner of the ring, and his journey to winning the Olympic silver medal in Athens.
The two stars came up with the concepts and worked with an artist to create the pictures.
Amir said: “I used to be a bit of a tearaway as a kid — I was hyperactive and always messing around.
“My dad wanted to find a way to channel my energy, so he sent me to a local boxing club.
“It transformed everything — I worked really hard and was boxing competitively by the time I was 11.
“I’ll never forget what a difference boxing has made to my life.”
The exhibition, which launches today, is run by the charity Action for Children and features more than 150 pieces of artwork donated by celebrities, including Rod Stewart, Joanna Lumley, Sir Ranulph Fiennes, Ronnie Corbett, Fearne Cotton, Chris Tarrant, Michael Aspel, Duncan Bannatyne and Jo Brand.
Eastenders’ Patsy Palmer and Charlie Clements have also contributed, as well as Bo Selecta’s Leigh Francis. Visit www.actionforchildren.org.uk/ journeys to see all the artwork.
julian.thorpe@theboltonnews.co.uk
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