A FORMER Coronation Street star and radio presenter has announced he will become patron of a mental and sexual health charity.

Dan Westwood, originally from Hartlepool now lives in Manchester, he starred as Ralph, Kylie Platt's friend in Coronation Street and has also featured in Doctors.

He will become the first patron for the Blackpool based Renaissance UK charity which provides support to multi disadvantaged adults, helps with substance use, sexual health services and HIV prevention and support services.

The announcement came today to coincide with World Aids Day.

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Dan said: "I’m delighted to mark World Aids Day 2021 by teaming up with Ren-UK to become the first charity patron and to work with and support all the brilliant work they do. As a proud Member of the LGBTQ+ community, I not only have a huge interest, but also passion and more importantly experience with mental health myself.

"Alongside this I want to help others around me and friends living with HIV. I am keen to learn and educate anyone who needs support working in partnership with this fantastic charity.

"Together we can move forward not only people’s current situations but, in some cases, change their lives.”

Dan also presents Gorgeous Radio every Saturday afternoon between 1pm to 4pm and has recently done some voiceover work for popular North East reality programme Geordie Shore.

Dan said: "I've never been a patron before for a charity, it's a big responsibility. I'm very overwhelmed and honoured.

"I know they're very excited to have me. I'm very honoured to be representing the LGBTQ community by doing this.

"I'm part of the LGBTQ+ community and I've got friends living with HIV, which is very misinterpreted - that's why we have World Aids Day, to celebrate that and educate people who don't know that.

"We in the LGBT world as well there's a lot of bad rep and stigma attached to HIV being a really negative, like a dirty disease. Certainly from friends I know, living with HIV it is a preventable disease and people live with that on medication.

"People are scared to 'catch things'. People think you can catch AIDS by touching someone with HIV or maybe sharing cutlery - that's where I come in as a patron."

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