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Wednesday 22nd April: The Love Wins t-shirt created in collaboration with much loved British author, artist and illustrator Charlie Mackesy for Comic Relief has generated more than half a million pounds in sales in the first 48 hours after being released.
The limited-edition t-shirt, which features Charlie Mackesy’s beloved characters, the Boy and the Mole alongside the poignant slogan, ‘Love Wins’, was released on Monday [20th April] to raise money for vulnerable people whose lives have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The t-shirt costs £15 and is available to buy online at comicrelief.com/love-wins for one month, [20th May] with all profits going to charities on the front line of the coronavirus fight.
Due to high demand and enormous generosity from the public shown just two days after the t-shirt launching, Comic Relief have now also released a tote bag, featuring the same Love Wins design.
Richard Curtis, Comic Relief co-founder, said: “It’s incredible that throughout this crisis, people have united and come together to support those who need it most. The response to the t-shirt has been beyond anything we could have hoped, it’s left us quite speechless. We want to thank everyone who has bought a t-shirt so far – your money will make such a difference in this time of terrible uncertainty.”
A host of stars and long-term celebrity supporters have already shown their support at home. Since the initial announcement earlier this week, stars including Aisling Bea, Eddie Marsan, Giovanna and Tom Fletcher, Himesh Patel, Jenna Coleman, Jo Whiley, Juliet Stevenson, Lily James, Martin Freeman, Naga Munchetty, Ruth Madeley, Sanjeev Bhaskar and Sir Lenny Henry have now also come together to show their support.
Money raised by the t-shirt will go to charities in the UK and around the world that urgently need support to respond to the tragic impact of the coronavirus crisis and navigate the complex challenges they face in making sure vulnerable people are still reached and cared for.
In the UK, many charities are seeing a huge increase in demand for their help - some are working day and night to deliver food and basic essentials to those in need, and others are doing everything possible to make sure no one is left feeling alone, frightened and at risk.
Money raised by the t-shirt will help those most vulnerable to the effects of coronavirus, including children and families in crisis and reliant on food banks, the elderly and isolated, women and children at risk of domestic abuse, people struggling with their mental health and those living in poverty or without stable housing, in the UK.
Comic Relief is working closely with the organisations it funds internationally to ensure they too can support the most vulnerable communities as coronavirus spreads.
Buying the t-shirt will also help charities working on the frontline response to the crisis around the world, including working to get emergency basic equipment such as soap and face masks to refugees living in overcrowded and often unhygienic camps, helping children living on the streets get to a place of safety, and providing emergency support and advice to women at risk of increased violence due to the lock down.
Carey Mulligan and Marcus Mumford said: “We’re both thrilled to be supporting Comic Relief and the work they do for people across the country who have been hit so heavily during this crisis, including elderly people and families who rely on foodbanks. Our old friend Charlie Mackesy has made a design which really resonates with us, we’re so proud to be wearing his heart.”
Giovanna and Tom Fletcher said: “We’re so proud to be supporting the amazing work that Comic Relief does. It’s a really worrying time and this t-shirt symbolises the love and connection that has swept across the nation in support of those who need it. Our family will all be wearing the Love Wins t-shirts, with pride.”
Naga Munchetty said: “There have been some heart-warming stories on BBC Breakfast of people keeping spirits high, checking in on loved ones, neighbours and friends, doing everything possible to look after each other during the Coronavirus crisis. But there are many, many people who need more support. Comic Relief’s new ‘Love Wins’ t-shirt will go a long way to help raise funds for the most vulnerable people in our society, who need the most support.”
Ruth Davison, Chief Executive of Comic Relief, said: “We are completely blown away by the unwavering generosity and support, by everyone who has bought a t-shirt. It’s been a truly incredible and heart-warming response. It will help so many people who are struggling during this difficult time. Love Wins is a message that I hope will continue resonating with people and reflect the kindness and care that communities are showing. The UK public never ceases to amaze us.”
The limited-edition Charlie Mackesy Love Wins t-shirt and tote bag for Comic Relief is available to buy now at comicrelief.com/love-wins, with all profits going to help the fight against coronavirus. ENDS
Celebrity supporters so far:
Aisling Bea, Anita Rani, Ann Marie Duff, Anthony Welsh, Carey Mulligan and Marcus Mumford, Caitriona Balfe, Charlie Stayt, Claudia Winkleman, Dame Joan Collins, Denise Gough, Eddie Marsan, Francesca Martinez, Giovanna and Tom Fletcher, Himesh Patel, Jenna Coleman, Jo Whiley, Juliet Stevenson, Lily James, Sir Lenny Henry, Louise Minchin, Martin Freeman, Meera Syal, Miranda Hart, Nadiya Hussain, Naga Munchetty, Reggie Yates, Rob Rinder, Ruth Madeley and Sanjeev Bhaskar. Assets Click here for the following: • A time-lapse video of Charlie Mackesy drawing the Love Wins t-shirt design • A range of celebrity images – in colour and black and white • An image of the t-shirt More about the t shirt • On sale period: From 20th April – 20th May • Shipping: UK only • Sizes: Available sizes for Adults: Small, Medium, Large and X Large. Children’s: Small, Medium and Large • Price: £15 with all profits going to charities fighting coronavirus • The initial run of t-shirts sold out in the first day, and for this Comic Relief was able to pledge every pound to the cause thanks to a private donation to cover production costs. Since needing to re-stock, a small production cost is now incurred, with a promise that all profits from t-shirt sales will go to charities fighting the pandemic • Delivery time: The aim is for the t-shirts to be delivered to those who have purchased as soon as possible but there will be no next day delivery option to make sure essential items are still the priority and to ease strain on couriers. The t-shirts may therefore take a little longer than usual due to extra measures being put in place to help keep colleagues and customers safe and well More about the tote bag • On sale period: 21st April – 20th May • Shipping: UK only • Price: £12 with all profits going to charities fighting coronavirus • Delivery time: The aim is for the tote bag to be delivered to those who have purchased as soon as possible but there will be no next day delivery option to make sure essential items are still the priority and to ease strain on couriers. The tote bag may therefore take a little longer than usual due to extra measures being put in place to help keep colleagues and customers safe and well For more information please contact: Comic Relief Media Team 0207 820 2500 media@comicrelief.com Out of hours phone 07984 510 473 About Comic Relief Comic Relief is a UK charity with a simple purpose - to create a just world, free from poverty. Comic Relief does this by funding and investing in amazing organisations across the UK and around the world to tackle some of the key issues of our time. Since 1985, Comic Relief has raised over £1.3 billion. That money has helped, and is helping, to improve countless lives. For information about Comic Relief and the work it carries out, please visit www.comicrelief.com Comic Relief, registered charity 326568 (England/Wales); SC039730 (Scotland) About Charlie Mackesy Charlie began his career as a cartoonist for The Spectator, before going on to be book illustrator for Oxford University Press. His award- winning work has featured in books, private collections, and public spaces including hospitals, prisons, churches, university colleges and galleries across London, Edinburgh and New York, and in women’s safe houses around the world. He also worked with Richard Curtis on the set of Love Actually to create a set of drawings to be auctioned for Comic Relief, and Nelson Mandela on a lithograph project, The Unity Series. Away from art he co-runs Mama Buci, a honey social enterprise in Zambia.
