If you watch “Eastenders” on the BBC, then you’re familiar with the jovial Barry Evans character played by Shaun Williamson. You might have also seen him on “Celebrity Big Brother,” but since he left the BBC 13 years ago, he has become an advocate for a rare disease.
Shaun was moved by his cousin, who is suffering from Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 1. This rare inherited disorder causes tumors to develop in the endocrine glands, the first part of the small intestine. This results in overactive glands that begin to secrete large amounts of hormones into the bloodstream.To learn more about MEN1, click here.
People are typically born with the condition, but it doesn’t reveal itself until they’re in their late teenage years. In the case of Shaun’s cousin, Luan Cherry, the thyroid cancer that she had as a teenager returned at an evolved state when she was 42.
Shaun has pledged to do everything in his power to help his cousin and others like him. He started by doing what he does best, entertaining. He made an appearance on the hit BBC quiz show “Pointless,” where he won £1,300 that went to Amend, a cancer charity that supports his cousin.
Shaun has become an official patron of Amend, and he’s using the charity as a platform toward raising awareness on the disorder. Amend supports over 5,000 British people that currently suffer from multiple endocrine neoplasia disorders and hopes to fund research in the future.
“It sounds flippant to say but sometimes just bad things happen and there is no rhyme or reason for it,” Shaun said in an interview with Kent Live about his cousin. “She is the only one in the family. Everyone else has been tested and is clear.”
According to Jo Grey, spokesperson for Amend, Shaun’s “Pointless” win will be extremely helpful toward their group, especially since they’ve been struggling to raise money when compared to larger more profitable charities.
Shaun has kept himself busy ever since departing from “Eastenders.” He’s been touring the UK in over 30 theatre productions. Since he’s huge fan of quiz shows, he was thrilled to help out on “Pointless.”
This Christmas, he will be playing the role of Captain Hook at a local production in Canterbury and will be gracing the screen once again in BBC’s newest sitcom, “Mr. Winner.”
