FUNDRAISING EVENING
May 13th 2012, doors open 7pm, starts 7:30pm
Steyning Athletics Club, Charlton Street, Steyning, West Sussex
Tickets £8.50 from Steyning Bookshop (available from April 1st 2012)

I am organising a fundraising evening on Sunday 13 May 2012 at Steyning Athletics Club to raise money for St Ann’s Hospice and The Neuro Foundation in memory of my mum, Pat Barton and my uncle, Peter Barton who had Neurofibromatosis, a rare disease that causes severe disfigurement. My mum died on 28th November 2011 in St Ann’s Hospice, Manchester from Oesophageal cancer, which had spread to her stomach and my Uncle died in September 2010.

For the fundraiser, I’m trying to create a warm, intimate atmosphere like the old days of the music hall – lots of variety including: Opera singing; local and regional singer/songwriters; comedians; Burlesque dancers, poets, a puppeteer, a strong man and more.

It was devastating watching my mum deteriorate so rapidly (she died within six months of being diagnosed) and I want to do something meaningful in memory of her, and give something back to the hospice that cared for her with dignity, respect and compassion. I also want to raise awareness of my Uncle Peter’s condition as he suffered a lot of bullying because of the way he looked, as people were scared and didn’t understand why he looked the way he did. May 13th 2012 would have been my mum’s 64th Birthday, so it seems an appropriate date to celebrate life, appreciate your own mum and remember how fragile life can be.

I am making lots of little birds for the event which I would like all my mum’s friends, my friends and family to decorate in their own way. These birds will be displayed at the fundraiser, then be exhibited at a local library and afterwards will be sent to St Ann’s Hospice to be auctioned off to raise more money. At the fundraising event, I will be singing an a capella song, ‘This Little Bird’ by John D. Loudermilk with my friend Joy, which I first heard perfomed by the singer Jewel and her mum. To me, birds symbolise little spirits that carry messages of hope and peace; I want my mum’s love and memory to be shared amongst eveyone I know and making the birds is an important part of that.

My mum was a courageous, strong, determined, lady who was full of energy and would do anything for those she loved. She was kind, caring, supportive, honest and spoke her mind. If you needed her, she was there.

Everyone who knew my mum is in awe of her. She will be remembered as an amazingly brave, steadfast, unconventional, bold, independent person who stood up for what she believed in. You were an incredible person mum – I love you and miss you so much xxxxxxxx

I have set this page up so that if you can’t make the fundraising evening but still want to contribute, then you can donate money here. Thank you for your support.

Tickets for the fundraiser will be available from Steyning Bookshop, 106 High Street, Steyning from April 1st 2012 and a pay bar will be available on the night; Steyning Athletics Club has disabled access and a disabled toilet. The evening will be held in aid of St Ann’s Hospice, Registered Charity Number 258085 and The Neuro Foundation, Charity Registration Number 1078790.