By Leicester Mercury | Posted: 16 October, 2014
A LOROS fundraiser has enlisted the help of comedian Dawn French to help her collect cash as part of an Ice Bucket Challenge-style campaign which encourages “random acts of silliness”.
After launching the campaign with the help of Sarah Millican earlier this week, Lizzy Strong, who was diagnosed with terminal cancer last January, has enrolled another big name - Dawn French.
The Market Harborough mum is encouraging people to indulge in a “random act of silliness” and kicked off her campaign last week with Geordie comic Sarah Millican, who visited her at home and was filmed throwing a plateful of squirty cream in her face.
Lizzy’s latest star endorsement took place on Tuesday night.
She said: “A friend of mine text me last night and said she was going to De Monfort Hall to watch Dawn French and asked if I wanted to come along.
“I immediately thought about the Random Acts of Silliness, but had no idea what I was going to do.
“I went to the stage door and showed them a copy of the Mercury and said this is what I was doing and before I knew I was back stage.”
Lizzy posed for photo with the comic star, but thought twice about a suggestion to draw on a fake moustache.
“She [Dawn] only had a permanent marker and I had to go to hospital in the morning so I showed her a chicken hat that my sister had brought instead and said ‘I’ll just wear this’.
“But she grabbed it, pulled a silly face and the rest is history.”
Everyone who takes part is supposed to upload a video to YouTube and donate money to the Leicestershire charity LOROS.
After only a few days, Lizzy, a former teacher a Glenmere Primary School, in Wigston, has inspired about half a dozen people and raised about £350 for the local Hospice.
Her sister, Vicky, who lives in Littlethorpe, is one of those who has filmed her own silliness video.
Vicky, 28, said her sister is an inspirational person and that her terminal diagnosis will not stop them enjoying life.
She said: “Since Lizzy discovered that her cancer is back and that it is now terminal, she has had to give up one of her main passions in life - teaching.
“The ‘random acts of silliness’ fundraising campaign has given her a sense of purpose back and it is really great to see the smile on her face again.
“We are under no illusions as to what the diagnosis means, but for now are determined to enjoy the laughter while we still can.
“Lizzy is truly an amazing person, a real inspiration, and I am immensely proud of her for what she is doing for LOROS.”
Lizzy’s blog - which details her illness and life in general - has also taken off, and received more than 10,000 visits, and her ‘silliness’ video has had more than 1,500 views.
“People are starting to come out of the woodwork and make their own videos which is brilliant.
“I’ve managed to raise about £350 for LOROS so far, but I really want that figure to grow – so it would be great if more people could take part.”
To donate, visit Lizzy’s JustGiving page, here
You can also follow Lizzy's campaign on Facebook and Twitter
