Top TV actor's video backing for Wigan armed forces hub fund-raiser

Suranne, known for her roles in Gentleman Jack, Doctor Foster and Coronation Street among other hit shows, recorded the video message after being asked by the hub's managing director Laura Ingham, who was at college with her.

In her message Suranne described the hub as a "wonderful charity" and said that in these difficult times communities need to stick together.

The Armed Forces HQ is taking to social media for the VE Day weekend as plans for a huge fund-raising event to support its work with those connected to the military have been scuppered by the coronavirus crisis.

Instead it is holding a 24-hour challenge to raise £20,000 between 9am on the bank holiday Friday and 9am on Saturday

Wigan Council has also given its backing to the fund-raising efforts and hopes residents will support it as well.

Getting the support of Suranne, meanwhile, has thrilled the team at Molyneux House in Scholes.

John Harker, strategic lead for armed forces and veterans at Wigan Council, said: "It is fantastic that Suranne has done this for us.

"VE Day weekend would have been big for our income-generating strategy as we were hoping to have the biggest event in Greater Manchester.

"We have come up with this plan to do a virtual event so we don't miss out."

Leader of Wigan Council, Coun David Molyneux said: “The Wigan Borough Armed Forces HQ is a fantastic resource for the borough providing vital, tailored support for the armed forces community.

“The HQ relies on donations in order to provide this invaluable service. The current social distancing measures mean the HQ can no longer fundraise in the traditional sense, so the team is adapting its way of working in order to provide a virtual experience for residents.

“We support the HQ’s 24 hour social media challenge over the VE Day weekend and we encourage the public to get involved and show their support too.”

Find out more by visiting www.facebook.com/wiganarmedforceshq/

Donate at www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/wiganborough-armedforceshq-vedaychallenge?utm_term=7GzW9p3nk&fbclid=IwAR1uz4TQWqMWIC5m4l1PeSN6lrXconBcvtTFMEyO5BxNDuJ4U0kMyAFwX94