Channing Tatum visits South America on charity mission

Hollywood actor Channing Tatum has visited South America on a charity mission to help inhabitants of the rainforests.

The Magic Mike hunk headed to Ecuador to see the work of the Runa Foundation, which benefits farmers and aims to protect local eco-systems.

Channing admits he felt obliged to get involved because the man who started the organisation's fairtrade tea range shares the name of his character in dance movie Step Up.

"A guy named Tyler Gage - which is hilariously my name in Step Up - he started the Runa tea company," Channing tells People.com. "Runa... gives plants to the Ecuadorian people to plant in their backyard, and they come around to harvest and pay the people money for the leaves."

Channing, who posted pictures of his trip on social media earlier this month (Dec15), adds of his experiences in South America, "We were all pretty moved and inspired by it. I just want to go down there and help... the people that I've met on the basic level of, I've made friends. I will do anything to help them save their land, to live a better life."

The actor previously launched a competition on charity website Omaze.com to raise money for the organisation.

Earlier this year (15), fans were given the chance to win tickets to the Los Angeles premiere of his movie Magic Mike XXL and attend the event with the actor as part of a scheme to raise money for the Runa Foundation.