By Simon Monk, Community Newswire
13 Nov 2000
Singer Boy George and model Sadie Frost are among a host of stars who will appear at a party to launch the Hepatitis C Trust's Get Tested! 2010 campaign on November 26.
The trust is aiming to raise £200,000 to pay for a bus to tour the country with a nurse to test people who may have contracted the virus. It will work as a mobile clinic, regularly touring the country to help the Get Tested! campaign.
The trust are collaborating with two DJs known as Cover To Cover to run the launch event at The Paradise in West London.
The launch is aiming to promote the Get Tested 2010! Mission, which involves groups of youngsters being sponsored to travel from the UK to Ibiza in May to coincide with Radio 1 DJ Pete Tong's International Music Summit.
They will travel in unusual vehicles such as Silver Bullet caravans, completing a series of secret challenges along the way.
The Hepatitis C Trust spokesperson Gemma Peppe said: "If you think you've done anything to put yourself at risk, then you should definitely get yourself tested. This could be sharing a toothbrush, having medical treatment abroad, having a tattoo or piercing, or sharing notes or needles to take drugs.
"Studies have estimated that there are around 500,000 people in the UK walking around with hepatitis C, and only 10% have been diagnosed. That's why it's so important to get yourself tested."
"One reason that there are so many undiagnosed is that there is a real lack of awareness surrounding hepatitis C.
"Another is that often it is symptomless. And a lot of the possible symptoms are very woolly. For example, a lot of people feel tired all the time, especially when they are getting older.
"So they have no idea that they may be suffering from hepatitis C."
Sadie Frost said: "I love performing and if you can possibly raise some extra awareness for such a good cause at the same time - it sounds like a great double act "
Eliza Doolittle, who will also be performing, said: "It's so important for people to know whether they are healthy or not, so if worst comes to worst they can diagnose their illness and work on feeling better and living a happy, worry free life."
Cover to Cover is the brainchild of Sean Rowley and Christian Laing, two DJs who play to crowds of thousands on a regular basis.
Together they have organised a wide range of artists who will perform their favourite covers. Upstairs the likes of Boy George, Sadie Frost and singer David McAlmont will perform covers of their favourite songs backed by a live band.
Downstairs DJs such as Sean Rowley, Christian Laing and Ed Simons from The Chemical Brothers will be playing their favourite cover records.
Tickets will be £10 in advance from www.wegottickets.com, and for £15 on the door. To find out more, visit www.theparadise.co.uk.
The Hepatitis C Trust supports those with the illness - a blood-borne virus that mainly infects the cells of the liver. It can also effect the digestive system, the lymphatic system, the immune system and the brain. To find out more visit www.hepctrust.org.uk.
