Actor Jason Patric rounded up his celebrity friends including Ben Affleck, Matt Damon and Mel Gibson on Wednesday (13Nov13) to raise money for fathers struggling to see their kids during nasty custody battles.

The Speed 2: Cruise Control star has not seen his son for several months after losing a court case against his ex-girlfriend Danielle Schreiber over access to their three-year-old son Gus, who was born via in-vitro fertilisation using his sperm.

After they split, U.S. law only recognised him as a sperm donor and he has lost all parental custody rights.

Now Patric is eager to use his ordeal to help others in similar situations by hosting his first Stand Up For Gus fundraiser in Los Angeles.

Stars including Affleck, Damon, Jon Hamm, Chelsea Handler and Kiefer Sutherland turned out to support him and donate cash to the cause.

Gibson, who experienced his own bitter court battle over the custody of his youngest daughter Lucia, also handed over $20,000 (£13,000) to the cause.

At the event, Patric said, "I don't have nights with Gus anymore, so I'm going to have this evening, and we're going to shine a light on this injustice."