Colin Firth, Michael Fassbender among stars coming together for MOAS

An array of British artists including Musician David Gilmour, actors Colin Firth, Michael Fassbender, Miranda Hart, Nick Frost and writer Jon Ronson have come together to raise money and awareness for the life saving search and rescue charity Migrant Offshore Aid Station (MOAS).

The celebrities are reaching out to their fans and followers on social media and urging them to donate to MOAS by using the hashtag #SaveLivesNow.

Many of them are even challenging their fans to raise enough funds to keep MOAS at sea for a day: £5,300, while at the same time pledging to match that donation.

More celebrities will be launching campaigns of their own over the coming days and weeks.

A statement by the foundation explains that the campaign, Artists for MOAS - Save Lives Now, is being coordinated by fundraising expert Holly Allen and journalist Charlie Gilmour, using the platform GivenGain.com, as a response to the increasing number of tragedies at sea.

MOAS has saved more than 11,000 men, women and children from the Mediterranean Sea since launching its maritime operations back in August 2014.