Former ER star Anthony Edwards agreed to return for the long-running medical drama’s final episodes – on the condition his paycheck was donated to the African charity he supports.

Although his character Dr Mark Greene died in 2002, the 46-year-old actor returns in flashback scenes during the final season of the hit TV show.

And he is using the opportunity to raise money for Shoe4Africa, an organisation founded in 1995 that promotes Aids awareness through sports and education, reported imdb.com.

Producers Warner Bros agreed to donate the US$125,000 (S$190,000) they had intended to pay Edwards.

In addition to Edwards’ money, film-maker Steven Spielberg contributed another US$125,000 (S$189,400) and ER executive producer John Wells added an extra US$50,000 (S$75,760).

The US$300,000 (S$454,560) total will help build a 250-bed hospital in Africa – the largest children’s clinic in the continent.

This article was first published in The New Paper on Nov 24, 2008.