 |
|
|
 |
 Carbon Neutral - Reason:
-Website: www.futureforests.com
Carbon Dioxide is one of the main causes of global warming. Melanie got associated with the Future Forests project to calculate the amount if CO² produced in the production and distribution of the Reason album. So enough trees were planted to re-absorb this amount of CO². Melanie’s trees are in the Manor Woodland farm, in Leicestershire, UK.
Cancer Research UK:
-Website: www.cancerresearchuk.org
In 2003, Melanie was invited by the institution to participate on a benefit TV show on Channel 4. It was a reality show with celebrities competing in different sports disciplines. The votes from the viewers by phone were charged so the money could be donated to the charities each celebrity represented. Melanie and other 9 more competitors trained for the show for 6 weeks. Melanie says: “I felt it was a good cause. I wanted to help, and saw it as a great opportunity to work with some of the best athletics coaches in the country.”
But a few days before the end of the competition Melanie suffered a rupture of her knee ligaments during a judo fight with Miss World, Azra Akin. She had to have surgery and a knee reconstruction done, staying out of the competition. That delayed the release of her single Melt/Yeh Yeh Yeh, but she doesn’t regret it, as she said to The Raft: "I have no regrets. You know what... it was a great experience, I learned a lot about some sports I'd probably never have played, and it was all for charity as well, I was raising money for Cancer Reasearch UK... so it wasn't in vain!"
|
 |
Helping a fan to quit smoking:
Fellow singer and lifelong fan of Melanie C, Tracy Costello, 27, had been smoking since she was just 12 until she got in touch with the Roy Castle foundation and learned of Mel's antismoking stance.
After meeting her heroine, Tracy said: "Meeting Mel is an inspiration to me, I can't believe it happened and it makes me more determined to stay off the smoking.
"Everyone should not give up giving up." Mel was visibly moved by her meeting with one of her fans and she added: "I think it is important to teach youngsters the perils of smoking and if I can help get this message across, then I am only too pleased to do so.
"My family was touched by cancer when my grandad died, so I realise the work done by the foundation and other cancer charities is so very important.
"As a singer I know only too well what a bad effect smoke can have on your voice - the problem is the places I perform in tend to be smoke-filled.
"Recently I was performing in Switzerland and I literally struggled to sing because the place was just so smoky."
Christmas Toys Give Out in 2003:
Mel C kickstarted the Echo's drive to give 10,000 Christmas presents to needy children, in 2003.
The singer, back in the north west to switch on Liverpool's Christmas lights, handed over the first sack of gifts and urged everybody to get involved.
The Echo, along with BBC Radio Merseyside and Gregg's the bakers, asked for donations of new toys to the appeal.
The toys were given out in hospitals, care homes and social services on Merseyside.
In 2002 6,342 presents were shared out among needy children, but in 2003 the aim was to give out 10,000.
Mel C praised the appeal and said: "Christmas really is the time of year when it's nice to think about people who are less fortunate than ourselves, and the Echo appeal is a wonderful chance to do that.
"Christmas is especially a time for children and I'm sure people won't mind getting them a little something extra. They'll really appreciate it.
"People just have to put their hands in their pockets. It only has to be something little but it could make someone's Christmas."
|
|
|
|
