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Monday 20th April: Much loved British author, artist and illustrator, Charlie Mackesy, and Comic Relief have come together to release an exclusive t-shirt to raise vital funds to help vulnerable people whose lives have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The limited-edition t-shirt created in collaboration with Charlie Mackesy features his beloved characters, the Boy and the Mole alongside the poignant slogan, ‘Love Wins’. The t-shirt goes on sale today for £15 and is available online at comicrelief.com/love-wins, with every pound going to charities on the front line of the coronavirus fight.
A host of stars and long-term celebrity supporters have already shown their support at home, including Carey Mulligan and Marcus Mumford, Claudia Winkleman, Dame Joan Collins, Himesh Patel, Louise Minchin, Miranda Hart, Nadiya Hussain, Reggie Yates and Rob Rinder.
Charlie Mackesy said: “I've loved being involved in this collaboration, making a drawing which I hope captures the spirit of togetherness and kindness of the public at this incredibly difficult time. The community love we have seen shine through these heart-breaking times is remarkable. It has never been so important to look after each other.”
Money raised by the t-shirt will go to charities in the UK and around the world that urgently need support to respond to the tragic impact of the coronavirus crisis and navigate the complex challenges they face in making sure vulnerable people are still reached and cared for.
In the UK, many charities are seeing a huge increase in demand for their help - some are working day and night to deliver food and basic essentials to those in need, and others are doing everything possible to make sure no one is left feeling alone, frightened and at risk.
Money raised by the t-shirt will help those most vulnerable to the effects of coronavirus, including children and families in crisis and reliant on food banks, the elderly and isolated, women and children at risk of domestic abuse, people struggling with their mental health and those living in poverty or without stable housing, in the UK.
Comic Relief is working closely with the organisations it funds internationally to ensure they too can support the most vulnerable communities as coronavirus spreads.
Buying the t-shirt will also help charities working on the frontline response to the crisis around the world, including working to get emergency basic equipment such as soap and face masks to refugees living in overcrowded and often unhygienic camps, helping children living on the streets get to a place of safety, and providing emergency support and advice to women at risk of increased violence due to the lock down.
Miranda Hart, pictured wearing the t-shirt, said: “Love Wins is the perfect message to share. Love, gentleness and kindness is what the vulnerable need now more than ever. And the money raised from this gorgeous t-shirt will go towards charities doing just that, supporting those most in need. I could not be more admiring of Comic Relief at this time and proud to have been associated with it for so long as a fan, then an assistant in the offices and now as a super model for a t-shirt. What?! Just buy the t-shirt, if you can. Love you.”
Claudia Winkleman said: “I think the design by Charlie Mackesy is just beautiful. I’ve supported Comic Relief for as long as I can remember - they fund incredible organisations, and I've seen first-hand how they genuinely change lives. If you can, please join me in wearing a ‘Love Wins’ t-shirt - it’s gorgeous, it’s entirely ethically produced, and every single pound will help support some of the most vulnerable people affected by this crisis.”
Robert Rinder said: “What is crystal clear in the present situation is we all need love and support. The work that Comic Relief does changes lives and communities for the better, simple as that, that’s why I’m wearing the Love Wins t-shirt.”
Louise Minchin said: “We all know the uncertainty and concern that people are feeling so deeply at the moment, however we’ve also all seen there has been so much kindness and care. I think this t-shirt brings together this feeling, because love does always win, and it will be love and togetherness that gets us through this crisis.”
Ruth Davison, Chief Executive of Comic Relief, said: “The coronavirus is hitting our most vulnerable communities the hardest and we urgently need funding to support charities on the frontline. The pandemic has reminded us that wherever we are in the world, we’re all connected, and what matters most is caring for each other. As well as raising vital funds, I hope this amazing t-shirt also offers a sign of unity - that we will get through this together.”
The limited-edition Charlie Mackesy Love Wins t-shirt for Comic Relief is available to buy now at comicrelief.com/love-wins, with all profits going to help the fight against coronavirus.
ENDS Assets Click here for the following: • A time-lapse video of Charlie Mackesy drawing the Love Wins t-shirt design • A range of celebrity images – in colour and black and white • An image of the t-shirt More about the t shirt • On sale period: From 20th April – 20th May • Shipping: UK only • Sizes: Available sizes for Adults: Small, Medium, Large and X Large. Children’s: Small, Medium and Large • Price: £15 and every pound goes to charities fighting coronavirus • Delivery time: The aim is for the t-shirts to be delivered to those who have purchased as soon as possible but there will be no next day delivery option to make sure essential items are still the priority and to ease strain on couriers. The t-shirts may therefore take a little longer than usual due to extra measures being put in place to help keep colleagues and customers safe and well • Ethically sourced: The t-shirts are sourced and manufactured in the UK using a ‘Fast Forward’ approved site. All workers were paid at least the living wage and the manufacturing site has recently been awarded a grant from the European Regional Development Fund as recognition of standards and to help promote business development in the manufacturing sector in the UK For more information please contact: Comic Relief Media Team 0207 820 2500 media@comicrelief.com Out of hours phone 07984 510 473 About Comic Relief Comic Relief is a UK charity with a simple purpose - to create a just world, free from poverty. Comic Relief does this by funding and investing in amazing organisations across the UK and around the world to tackle some of the key issues of our time. Since 1985, Comic Relief has raised over £1.3 billion. That money has helped, and is helping, to improve countless lives. For information about Comic Relief and the work it carries out, please visit www.comicrelief.com Comic Relief, registered charity 326568 (England/Wales); SC039730 (Scotland) About Charlie Mackesy Charlie began his career as a cartoonist for The Spectator, before going on to be book illustrator for Oxford University Press. His award- winning work has featured in books, private collections, and public spaces including hospitals, prisons, churches, university colleges and galleries across London, Edinburgh and New York, and in women’s safe houses around the world. He also worked with Richard Curtis on the set of Love Actually to create a set of drawings to be auctioned for Comic Relief, and Nelson Mandela on a lithograph project, The Unity Series. Away from art he co-runs Mama Buci, a honey social enterprise in Zambia.
