Watch BFG star Penelope Wilton's message of support

Dame Penelope Wilton, who plays the Queen in Stephen Spielberg’s film adaptation of The BFG, talks about her support for our work in this video message.  

Dame Penelope Wilton talks about her support for CBM, the overseas disability charity transcript open link in new tab)

If you can’t see the film above, click here to view on Youtube (open link in new tab).

The actress, who is a household name for her many film, theatre and TV roles, including Downton Abbey, Calendar Girls and Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, has supported CBM since 2012.  In June 2016, Penelope Wilton presented an appeal on behalf of CBM UK on BBC Radio 4, raising over £39,000 to prevent childhood blindness in Tanzania.  She explains:

“When I first came across CBM in 2012, I was shocked to learn that people in developing countries are going blind because of conditions like cataracts. Cataracts cause half of all blindness. They can be treated with straightforward surgery – and yet for thousands of men, women and children in Africa, this simple operation is out of reach.

If you’re living in poverty in a developing country, it must be truly terrifying to lose your sight. In the places where CBM works, it nearly always means losing the chance to go to school, or to earn a living as an adult. It’s not just the physical barriers, though these can be huge – people with disabilities often face discrimination and stigma, leaving them isolated and ignored.

So several years on, I’m still as committed as ever to helping CBM train doctors, equip hospitals and fund operations, so we can build a world where no-one is needlessly blind.

And I’m also proud of CBM’s work helping men, women and children who are blind or live with other disabilities access education and training, earn a living and be respected in their communities.”