Anthony Edwards Interview

CGG: So what brings you here tonight?

Anthony Edwards: I’m here because my primary focus right now is working with an organization called “ShoeforAfrica.org,” and at the moment we’ve taken on a huge project which is we’re going to build the largest children’s hospital in Africa. So we usually work primarily in Women’s Empowerment and AIDS education to running; and that’s primarily what we do. But since the recent violence in Kenya last year, the government came to us and said, “What we really need is help building this hospital.” So we’re raising 15 million dollars to build this hospital—a 250-bed children’s hospital.

CGG: Where in Africa is it?

AE: In Eldoret, Kenya, which is in the northern part of Kenya; which is the kinda the running capital of the world really. But it’s historically been Kenya for running. A lot of great runners from around the world come and train there; it’s high altitude in Kenya.

CGG: So what got you involved in that?

AE: I mean I just ran for fun. And I was lucky I met Toby Tanger, who is the founder of Shoe for Africa; who is an ex-professional runner who started the organization 13 years ago just simply by bringing his running shoes over to Kenya where he trained, because you can’t buy a new pair of running shoes in Kenya.

CGG: So are you involved with this TB organization at all?

AE: Just as a fan. I’ve been watching the videos, and trying to learn 20 minutes of knowledge at a time.

CGG: So what are the goals of the hospital? When do you want to finish?

AE: We just started. We just launched the campaign, so we’re just starting. I mean, basically we’ll need to raise a certain amount and break ground, and we’ll finish it up with all the equipment and supplies which will we’re doing.

CGG: What advice do you have for young people to make change in the world today?

AE: Well I think it’s the same things. I was lucky enough with what my parents told me, which is just do what makes you happy. People generally only succeed with things that they care about. So no matter what anyone else thinks, do what you care about.

CGG: And how do you think Americans can get interested in participating in Africa, since it’s so far away?

AE: I mean, the internet is the most obvious and easy way. It connects everybody so well. So it’s so much easier to get involved I think than when I was a kid. So just take advantage of the technology that’s there.

CGG: What are you hoping for in the upcoming election?

AE: Well I’m a big Sarah Palin fan, so I’m thrilled that she will be the Vice President of the United States! (laughs) No, I mean I think it would be hard to find somebody here who’s not a supporter of Barack Obama, and is desperate to get out of the this situation.

CGG: And is it true that this is the last season of ER coming up?

AE: Yeah, so I went back and did an episode, even though my character died six years ago. They wrote an episode that I did, and actually I said I’d do the episode if they put the money in the hospital. So Warner Bros. kicked in $125 thousand and Steven Spielberg just kicked in $125 thousand, so we’re starting our momentum.

CGG: How does it feel that the show is ending?

AE: You know, I’ve been away from it for so long that I don’t really have any real attachments to it anymore. I’m just glad to have been involved with it from the beginning.