Robert's involvement with our charity was highlighted by members of Once Upon A Fan, the major online resource for fans of the series, who then decided to help with fundraising.
In an incredible real life fairytale for With Kids, they have, to date, raised £3,475 of a £5,000 target.
As if that wasn't enough, Once Upon A Fan are running a With Kids charity auction from Monday 24th September to Sunday 30th September 2012.
Pieces for auction will include jewellery, original fan art pieces, rare autographed posters, journals, Emmy DVDs and lots more.
The final, ultimate auction for the ‘chipped cup’ from Skin Deep, signed by Robert and Emilie de Ravin, will take place on the 30th September.
Gareth Hughes, the founder of Once Upon A Fan, said: “The support we have received from all over the world has just been incredible. It has blown me away. Not just in terms of donations, but the kindness shown.”
In our second guest blog post, Gareth delves into his past and explains why With Kids are so close to his heart.
Every Fairytale has a Happy Ending
I became aware of With Kids through fans of Once Upon A Time, who recommended watching the videos that Robert had done. I could really relate to the difficulties that disadvantaged families go through and the idea that everybody deserves a chance, or a happy ending.
I grew up in a very poor part of Merseyside on a council estate where chances in life seemed limited.
Early on, I made a conscious decision that I could do well in spite of the barriers that society sometimes places on people.
I went to university and I am now a manager of a brain injury unit in Cheshire.
I can relate so much to what With Kids are trying to do because my mother and father never had that kind of support.
We were lucky in the sense of having a local community of neighbours that pulled together and supported each other, but nothing like With Kids existed.
So, when I learned about With Kids and what they do, it was just instinctive, as the fan site grew in popularity, that we could use this huge following to do some real good.
My life could have gone down a very different path so the idea of building resilience and self esteem in children from a young age is so important to me, so that they find pride in themselves and achieve their goals, however big or small those goals are.
That's why I love what With Kids are doing.
The love is mutual Gareth. The love is mutual.
If you would like to submit an item for the Once Upon A Fan With Kids auction, contact Gareth at gareth@onceuponatimefans.co.uk
You can donate to With Kids, via Once Upon A Fan's Just Giving page.
If you would like to follow in Gareth's footsteps and write a guest blog post for With Kids, please email s.blair@withkids.co.uk with your ideas and suggestions.
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