Lancaster charity show wild cards announced

Harmony, made up of friends from Ripley St Thomas school, are through as a ‘wild card’ to the Furness Charity Stars event at the Grand Theatre on Saturday, February 21.

The quartet, all from Morecambe, are Ellie Chadwick, aged 11, Gabby Burns (12) and twins Eleanor and Anya Adamson (both 11).

Each act in the final will represent a chosen charity. Harmony has picked Joseph’s Journey, which raises funds for the Devaney family of Morecambe.

Three-year-old Joseph Devaney is battling leukaemia.

Twelve finalists and six ‘wild cards’ were chosen by a panel of judges including the Lancaster Guardian and Visitor content editor, Greg Lambert.

Harmony and seven-year-old Ciara Quinn from Walton-le-Dale, Preston, topped the ‘wild card’ website vote organised by The Bay radio and Furness Building Society. The Harmony girls said the support they have received has been fantastic with lots of friends at school pledging their support, and even the lollipop man promising to vote for them!

Other acts from our district who made the final directly are pensioner Ron Carey from Heysham, supporting Megan’s Wish, Emmie Togneri, 21, from Morecambe, backing the MIND mental health charity, duo Ella Jones and Lucy Leamy, representing St John’s Hospice, and Lyndsey Davies from Heysham, supporting Galloway’s Society for the Blind. The other finalists are Faye Anna Bowness, 15, from Milnthorpe singing on behalf of North West Air Ambulance Ben Lewis from Ulverston representing St Mary’s Hospice, Megan Forrest from Kendal singingfor Arthritis Care, Amy Blyth, 13, from Blackpool for Brian’s House Children’s Hospice, Willow Whelan, 12, from Blackburn representing Blackburn Youth Zone, Ember on behalf of Rosemere Cancer Care, Ryan Hamilton and Craig Payne from Preston singing for The Space Centre in Preston, and Nicky Lawless, Elaine Burke and Bob Christie who will support research into Motor Neurone Disease.

Judges on the night will include Greg Lambert and The Bay radio’s Darren Milby. The show will be hosted by The Bay breakfast show presenter Danny Matthews. The finalists will compete for prizes of £1,000 for first place, £750 for second place, and £500 for third place, with £100 for each of the other finalists so that all of the charities represented on stage will benefit.The winner will also have the chance to record their own video and music session with the Bay. Tickets to see the Charity Stars final are £5 each and available on 01524 64695.