Fundraising Ray organises musical extravaganza for Leukaemia CARE

Howard Lake | 7 June 2006 | Newswire

A former circus performer and entertainer has organised a musical extravaganza to take place at The Firs Rest Home on Malvern Road, St Johns, on Sunday 9th July. Starting at 3pm, the free to enter event, which will be held in a large marquee kindly lent by St Johns Scout Group, will entertain all age groups and features a host of local talent.
A resident of St John’s in Worcester, Ray Portman has been fundraising all his life. He’s helped many charities in the past but his latest event sees him raising money for Worcester-based Leukaemia CARE.
He said: There are many people who suffer from cancer and I don’t feel that enough is being done for them. Charities like Leukaemia CARE offer a vital service in providing help and support to patients and their families and I really wanted to raise some money to help them continue their valuable work.
I organised a similar event for them last year but we had a disappointing turnout because it was a really cold day so I’m hoping for better weather and better support this year. We’ve got some first class musicians taking part and I’d be delighted if we could get at least 200 people along on the day.”
Ray added: The event is free to enter but we’ll be running a raffle and doing a collection to try and raise as much money as possible.”
Leukaemia CARE’s fundraising manager Louise Carlin added: Ray has spent his life helping others and it’s great that he has chosen to help us again this year. What’s good about this event is the diversity of the acts – all of which are local to the Worcestershire area – taking part and I hope that people will come along and show some support.”
The event kicks off at 3pm with the Bretforton Silver Band – formed in 1895 and now the only remaining village band in Worcestershire.
This is followed at 3.30 by Lyrico, a newly-formed song and dance group which is made up of local youngsters. Then, hailed as the ‘Wizard of the Keyboard’, 13-year-old Benjamin Payne from Halesowen takes to the stage at 4.15.
At 4.30, visitors can enjoy 10 minutes of show tunes sung by Sheila Wainwright followed by Stourport’s Sam Pagett, also 13, playing the saxophone in his own unique style at 4.40 before the Bretforton Silver band close the show at 5.00.
In addition to the musical events there will also be a raffle draw and refreshments will be available.
For further information, please contact:
Louise Carlin, Leukaemia CARE – 01905 755 977
or
Steve Paddock/Michele Turner, Market Link PR – 01905 726 575

About Howard Lake
Howard Lake is consultant editor of UK Fundraising. He founded the site in 1994 and successfully sold it in 2022. As director of Giving X Ltd he is exploring growing giving on a massive scale. He is the founder of Fundraising Camp and co-founder of GoodJobs.