Draw The World Together

A UK based comic book artist is enlisting the help of the global comic book community to raise money for the international children's development charity EveryChild.

The project, called Draw The World Together, is the brainchild of Andrew Wildman, who is a designer and illustrator with 25 years experience in the comic book and video games industry. He has contacted world renowned comic book artists and asked them to donate original pieces of artwork and signed prints that can be auctioned off on an online auction on eBay that will begin on Monday 17th October and will run until Sunday 23rd October. All details of the project, the online auction and the artists involved can be found at the following website www.drawtheworldtogether.com

There is a strong sense of community in the comic book community, and Andrew feels this community can be motivated to give something back to those who don't get the opportunity to lose themselves in the world of comics, as he puts it:

"As communities we are powerful. As a comic book community I feel that there is a potential to make a difference. To make a difference to those children in the world who do not have the opportunity to complete the basic education that would enable them to enjoy the books and comics that so inspired us as children, those books and comics that take us into new worlds of fun and adventure. Adventures that express the enormous potential we have as people to be powerful and cooperative within our communities."

Contributors to the project include artists like David Lloyd, the creator of V for Vendetta (which is currently being turned into a major motion picture by Warner Brothers), Dave Gibbons who has worked on The Watchman and 2000AD and Bryan Talbot the 'godfather' of British underground comics who is also known for his work on 2000AD. All the artwork, over 40 pieces in all, can also be viewed at www.drawtheworldtogether.com/thankyou.html

All proceeds raised will be going to EveryChild's Child Development Project in the Preah Vihear Province in north-western Cambodia. The project will empower families to be able to protect their children against abuse and exploitation, mobilise the community to safeguard and promote children's rights and improve access, for disadvantaged children, to quality education and basic healthcare.

EveryChild's regional manager for South East Asia Jane Banez-Ockelford says of the project:

"With little or no social safety nets or support, vulnerable children in this region often become victims of prostitution, drug addition, sexual abuse and fall victim to trafficking rings. This project aims to put those safety nets in place and allow the children to develop in safe and secure environment. None of this would be possible if it wasn't for the efforts of people like Andrew Wildman and all the artists who have donated their work. We are extremely grateful to everyone involved in Draw The World Together and everyone who donates to the project".

Draw The World Together has also been named as the official charity project of Comic Book Expo, which takes place in Bristol on 13th and 14th May (for more details please visit www.comicexpo.net). If you are unlucky enough not to be among the wining bidders for the online auction, donations can also be made to this project via the Just Giving website, which can be found at www.justgiving.com/drawtheworldtogether

Click HERE to view the auctions