Actors, artists and sports stars chase rainbows to support WaterAid Covid-19 campaign

Posted by
Laura Crowley
on
26 May 2020
In
Health
Tobias Menzies supports Bring Water campaign

Tobias Menzies, Joanna Lumley, Ellie Simmonds, Sir Quentin Blake and David Shrigley help WaterAid Bring Water

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A host of stars from stage, screen and the sporting and art worlds are creating and sharing rainbows as part of WaterAid’s new campaign to raise money for its lifesaving water and hygiene work around the world.

The ‘Bring Water’ campaign launches on 21 May with a film featuring actors Tobias Menzies and Joanna Lumley, and Paralympic champion Ellie Simmonds presenting their rainbows alongside artwork from London to Berlin and LA to Adelaide. Together, they highlight the importance of clean water and good hygiene in the fight against Covid-19.

Artists David Shrigley and Sir Quentin Blake have also contributed their unique rainbows to support WaterAid’s campaign to help get clean water and good hygiene to everyone everywhere, as you can’t have a rainbow without water.

Across the world, rainbows have become a symbol of hope and unity amid the pandemic, yet the world is not equally equipped to prevent the spread of disease. 

Handwashing with soap and water, is one of the most effective ways to reduce the spread of infectious diseases, like Covid-19. Yet, globally, one in four health centres have no clean water, putting health workers and their patients at risk. One in ten people have no clean water, and three-quarters of people in poorer countries do not have somewhere to wash their hands with water and soap at home. 

WaterAid ambassador Tobias Menzies, star of The Crown, Game of Thrones, and Outlander, said:  

“During this difficult time, rainbows have come to represent hope and unity as we face the global pandemic together. However, inequalities across the world mean many poor communities are at a greater risk of the spread of disease. Globally, one in ten people have no clean water, while one in four health centres are denied this basic resource, putting the lives of health workers and their patients at risk. 

“Together, we can help change this. I’m delighted to be supporting WaterAid’s ‘Bring Water’ campaign, which aims to get clean water and good hygiene and sanitation to vulnerable communities that need it most, so they can better protect themselves from deadly diseases.”

Paralympian swimmer and WaterAid Ambassador Ellie Simmonds said:  

“It’s shocking that 1 in 10 people don’t have access clean water. Lack of clean water and decent sanitation creates a cycle of poverty, affecting communities in devastating ways.   

“Through my work with WaterAid, I’ve visited families in Uganda who didn’t have clean water. It’s hard to imagine how you can protect yourself, your family, and your community from diseases like Covid-19, in crowded conditions and when you don’t even have clean water and soap to wash your hands.   

“That’s why I’m proud to be part of WaterAid’s “Bring Water” campaign, working with them to raise awareness of the millions of people around the world who are denied clean water and good hygiene. With rainbows being a sign of hope in these challenging times, it’s my hope that within a generation everyone, everywhere will have access to clean water and decent sanitation.”    

Find out more about WaterAid’s work in response to the Covid-19 crisis at: https://www.wateraid.org/uk/donate/covid-19-emergency-appeal. 

ENDS 

Download photos: https://wateraid.assetbank-server.com/assetbank-wateraid/images/assetbox/3a15012a-56e7-4c15-983f-6332dc2cbf28/assetbox.html 
View the film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnVroznBfVM&feature=youtu.be

For more information, please contact:
Laura Crowley, PR Manager, [email protected];
Or call our after-hours press line on +44 (0)7887 521 552,
or email [email protected].
 

WaterAid

WaterAid is working to make clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene normal for everyone, everywhere within a generation. The international not-for-profit organisation works in 28 countries to change the lives of the poorest and most marginalised people. Since 1981, WaterAid has reached 26.4 million people with clean water and 26.3 million people with decent toilets. For more information, visit www.wateraid.org/uk, follow @WaterAid or @WaterAidPress on Twitter, or find WaterAid UK on Facebook at www.facebook.com/wateraid.

  • 785 million people in the world – one in ten – do not have clean water close to home.[1]
  • 2 billion people in the world – almost one in four – do not have a decent toilet of their own.[2]
  • Around 310,000 children under five die every year from diarrhoeal diseases caused by poor water and sanitation. That's almost 800 children a day, or one child every two minutes.[3]
  • Every £1 invested in water and toilets returns an average of £4 in increased productivity.[4]
  • Just £15 can provide one person with clean water.[5]

[1] WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) Progress on drinking water, sanitation and hygiene: 2017 update and SDG Baselines

[2] WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) Progress on drinking water, sanitation and hygiene: 2017 update and SDG Baselines

[3] Prüss-Ustün et al. (2014) and The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (2018)

[4] World Health organization (2012) Global costs and benefits of drinking-water supply and sanitation interventions to reach the MDG target and universal coverage

[5] www.wateraid.org

 

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