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Comedian Tony Hawks, best known as a regular on Radio 4, the author of Round Ireland with a Fridge, fans of BBC sitcom Red Dwarf will recognise him as "the fifth Dwarfer" or perhaps you will recall the legendary 1988 hit Stutter Rap...
Back in 1997, during the World Cup qualifying match between England v Moldova, Hawks did not hesitate in taking on a bizarre bet with friend Arthur Smith that he could beat the entire Moldovan football team at tennis.
Embarking on a journey of self-discovery to the former Soviet republic, the book became a Sunday Times bestseller. Hawks' experiences penning 'Playing The Moldovans at Tennis' led him to donate half the proceedings to the foundation of a care centre for poor children in Moldovan capital Chisinau.
Now, over ten years on, the story has been turned into a movie by Tony and the award-winning director Mikolaj Jaroszewiecz which promises to be charming, witty and deeply poignant (watch the trailer).
The film’s profits will go to the Hippocrates Children’s Centre in Moldova, which aims to improve the health of children with chronic conditions who are living in socially vulnerable families.
Tony, 52, explains: "Moldova is the poorest country in Europe.
"When I arrived back in 1998 the family I stayed with consisted of two doctors and neither had been paid for 6 months.
"There was so much poverty and suffering. It hit me that I hadn't considered the nature of the country I was entering.
"In Ireland, my tour with a fridge was a celebration of eccentricity. In Moldova it wasn't quite the same.
"I quickly realised my wacky bet was not suitable and I felt I owed something to the place where my story was shaped.
"That's why I decided to donate half the proceeds from the book to something worthwhile, to give something back."
In August 2000, The Hippocrates Children’s Centre was opened in order to help disabled children, the centre is run by Diana Covalciuc, the doctor with whom Tony lodged during his stay in Moldova.
Having helped hundreds of children so far, as well as educate the parents as to the skills needed to ease their child's condition, the need to move into larger premises soon became apparent.
Tony added: "I wanted the film of Playing the Moldovans at Tennis to be all about giving.
"From the word go, I wanted any profits to go to the care centre for kids with cerebral palsy.
"We held a screening of the film for the children at the centre last month and they applauded throughout the end credits.
"It was very moving. Having committed so much time to the project it was great to get that response.
"The decision to make the film came about when a US producer asked after the rights, and it struck me that it was a story really worth telling.
"And a fantastic way to raise more money for the new much larger vision of the centre.
"All the parts are played by actors but the real 'characters' were around on set.
"It feels very real, it begins set in 1998 and then we enter present day.
"There's obscene wealth juxtaposed against dire poverty in Moldova.
"I'm not a huge philanthropist I just did what I felt I owed to the people.
"I've done reasonably well over the years. Once you've a nice place to live that's all you need.
"It felt the right thing to do.
"We need €120,000 to finish the new building. We've bought the land, now it's a matter of finishing what we've started."
A one-off screening of Playing the Moldovans at Tennis will take place 21st July at FACT Liverpool followed by a Q&A with Tony Hawks. Tickets are priced at £10.50, on sale now through FACT box office 08719025737 or visit http://www.fact.co.uk/whats-on/playing-the-moldovans-at-tennis-qa-with-tony-hawks
A DVD / streaming of the film is available online now (from June 21st.) To view the film or to make a donation please visit www.moldovansmovie.com
You can also follow Tony for updates on twitter @thefridgeman
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