More stars have been lined up for the Spirit of Christmas carol concert with tickets still available for the fundraising event at Christ Church Cathedral next Wednesday.

Actress Rula Lenska and impressionist Jan Ravens, famous for her voices on Dead Ringers and Spitting Image, will be giving readings at the event, in aid of the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign.

Ms Lenska will be joined by the Scottish actor James Cosmo, whose films include Braveheart and the Disney production of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, where fittingly he played Father Christmas.

Other celebrities added to the lineup are Reece Shearsmith, of The League of Gentlemen fame, and Julian Rhind-Tutt, best known for his role as “Mac” McCartney in the cult comedy TV series Green Wing.

The Oxford-based star of Silent Witness Tom Ward, has already agreed to do one of the readings.

The actor, who co-stars with Emilia Fox, plays forensic pathologist Dr Harry Cunningham in the long-running BBC drama.

Mr Ward, a former pupil of the Dragon School, in North Oxford, was recruited to take part in Spirit of Christmas by friend and local author Candida Crewe, who has been instrumental in organising the charity event as a tribute to her father Quentin Crewe, who had muscular dystrophy and died in 1998.

Blackadder star Tim McInnerny, whose films include Notting Hill, will also be appearing at the annual carol concert.

The Muscular Dystrophy Campaign is the UK’s leading charity fighting muscle diseases, affecting 70,000 children and adults in the UK.

Among those present on Wednesday will be a family who have been deeply touched by the muscle wasting disease.

Fourteen-year-old Sam Bailey, from Wantage, was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy shortly before his fifth birthday, when it was noticed that he was unable to climb or get off the floor as easily as other children.

After being referred to Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital for blood tests, it was confirmed that he had the progressive condition, which sees muscles gradually weaken over time, eventually affecting the hearts and lungs.

After using a manual wheelchair for long distances, by the age of 12 Sam needed to use a powered wheelchair full time.

Despite his condition, Sam leads a full and active life, attending King Alfred’s School in Wantage. As well as taking part in riding for the disabled, he plays powered wheelchair football for Reading, this weekend competing for them at the national finals in Nottingham.

His mother Penny Bailey, who works as a part time teaching assistant at Harwell Primary School, will be at Christ Church, along with his younger brother Andrew, 12, who does not have the condition.

Mrs Bailey said: “It will be the first time that we will have attended one of the Spirit of Christmas events. We are looking forward to it.”

Last year more than 400 people gathered at the cathedral and helped raise about £10,000 for the MDC.

Mrs Bailey said: “The fundraising is so important because there is a lot of good research into Duchenne muscular dystrophy going on at present, some of it in Oxford.”

MDC has invested millions into research since the charity was formed more than 50 years ago but so far no cure has been discovered.

There are about 2,500 boys with the disorder in the UK and about 100 babies are born with it each year.

Tickets range from £10 up to £40 for special gold tickets, offering an opportunity to meet the stars at a reception over a mince pie and a glass of champagne. Go to muscular-dystrophy.org or call 020 7803 2861.