Soap stars put it on the line for charity

Ria Vandervis hopes to use her recognition on <i>Shortland Street</i> to create awareness and raise funds.

Shortland Street stars will join thousands of New Zealanders taking part in Live Below the Line for charity.

For five days next month, Ria Vandervis, who plays Dr Harper Whitely, Amy Usherwood (nurse Emma Franklin), Sam Bunkall (surgeon Boyd Rolleston) and Kerry-Lee Dewing (nurse Kylie Brown) will live on $2.25 a day for Oxfam.

The annual event will run from September 23 to 27, and challenges participants to feed and hydrate themselves on $2.25 a day, the New Zealand equivalent of the extreme poverty line.

The initiative, launched by education and campaigning organisation Global Poverty Project, aims to raise awareness of the 1.2 billion people who are forced to live on the line every day. Oxfam is one of eight charities taking part.

Usherwood jumped at the chance to be involved but has become increasingly nervous about participating.

"I will just have to stay away from the free coffee in the kitchen."

She has raised $235 so far but aims to raise $600 in total.

Kerry-Lee Dewing, left, and Amy Usherwood jumped at the chance.

Dewing was brought up in South Africa, where she said the poverty was quite apparent. This was her first opportunity to help alleviate world poverty.

Vandervis said that with really long days and morning and afternoon teas provided on set, it would be hard not to give in to temptation.

Rice, grains and porridge would be the foods of choice for the team.

The actors will produce a daily video diary from their Shortland Street fitting room during Live Below the Line challenge week.

In 2012, 1500 people took part in the fundraiser, which collected $380,000. Of this, $77,000 was raised by 227 people living below the line for Oxfam.

Live Below the Line campaign manager Sam Drumm said they hoped to attract 2500 people and surpass $500,000 this year.

Go to oxfam.org.nz for more information