Theatre stars prepare for sky dive in memory of Thomas Cammack (From York Press)

Gruffalo stars prepare for sky dive in memory of Thomas Cammack

10:10am Tuesday 28th August 2012 in News

THE stars of a national theatre production are more than halfway to raising their charity target in memory of Thomas Cammack.

Four-year-old Thomas, from Selby, died in April following a year-long battle with neuroblastoma.

Hundreds of people filled Selby Abbey to pay celebrate his life, and his coffin was carried into the Abbey to music from The Gruffalo Live, his favourite show, which he had been to see only weeks before he died.

The cast of the show, including Owen Guerin, who plays the Gruffalo, Timothy Richey, who plays Fox, Owl and Snake, Josie Cerise, who plays Mouse, Daniel Foxsmith, and company manager Heather Rose, were so touched by meeting Thomas after the show they organised a sponsored sky dive on September 12, to raise money for Families Against Neuroblastoma – a charity which helped support Thomas and the Cammack family.

Owen said: “Thomas was such a stunning little boy, he was incredible. So confident and bubbly, and in awe of everything. When we heard he’d died it really hit the team hard because he was so incredible and to find out this little boy had passed on, it was gutting for all of us.

“It’s really weird, we are all in completely different states. I’m a bit of an adrenaline junky so I’m quite happy to jump out of the plane on my own, whereas Josie is petrified of heights, and can barely climb a set of ladders. But we’re all thinking more about the cause rather than our fears.”

The team, who are touring with the show around the country until the end of September, have placed a donation bucket on their merchandise stall at every performance on the tour, and have now taken a different approach, by creating a special short video for the Just Giving site.

Owen said: “We wanted to try and make a difference. With the show, Josie has started giving an announcement after the encore, telling people about the event and the intake of money has been incredible, it’s made such a massive difference.

“The very last date of the UK tour is September 29, then we’re quite fortunate to have a week off, then eight or nine days performing in Dubai, which is just crazy.

“We’re going to do our best to see what we can do out there. It’s not just a problem that affects children in the UK though, it’s a worldwide problem, so if we can do anything to make a difference, we should.”

To donate to the team, or check out the new fundraising video, go to justgiving.com/The-Gruffalo-Jumps