ACTRESS and singer Helen Wilding is bringing her international show home to Bolton to raise money for a baby girl desperately in need of a lifesaving liver transplant.

The former Canon Slade pupil, who has appeared in Hollyoaks, the BAFTA winning Boy A and sung for the royal family, is performing in Little Lever later this month to help six-month old Atheena Mae, whose story she heard while touring the world with her one woman show, which has taken her from Tahiti to Iceland.

Helen, who grew up in Firwood, Tonge Moor, met a waiter from the Philippines on a cruise ship, who told her about his daughter and the money needed to fund the lifesaving surgery.

Atheena was three months old when she was diagnosed with liver disease. The only course of treatment is a liver transplant before she is one-year-old which will have to take place in India, thousands of miles from their home. She is currently back in hospital with pneumonia and time is of the essence to raise the money needed.

Helen said: "I dropped everything in an effort to raise the money. She has so little time left to wait and I have a show all ready to go ­—I thought, why not bring it to Bolton and show the Philippines that we really are a town that cares.

"Friends graciously donated me a venue so now I’m just trying to make sure we get an audience. We need to raise anything we can towards the goal of $12,000! However small, every ticket sale helps!"

The performer says she feels privileged her work takes her around the world but has also shown her the struggles other people face.

"I started going out into the towns where I was based and finding families that were so far from the life I knew and making friends," said Helen.

After visiting the Amazon River, in 2017 Helen raised enough money to buy and take school supplies to children in a tiny village in the rainforest, who she had met the year before.

"They had so little," said Helen. "I get sent to such wonderful places to sing, I thought it was time I did something to give back. I’ve known those kids for years! It’s so amazing to see them grow up every time I go back!"

Helen is performing in Singapore in January and is hoping to meet the little girl, hopefully post-surgery.

The concert takes place on October 26 at 7pm at Christ Church Church Hall in Mytham Road.

Helen said: "It is a real variety show. A mix of vocal styles with a bit of magic and crazy multi-screen songs with some comedy too. Everything from Julie Andrews to Bon Jovi."

For tickets find the One Night for Atheena Mae event on Facebook. Email helenwilding05@hotmail.co.uk or call 07966367452

Tickets £5 minimum donation.