Stellar line-up for Sara’s Benefit Night

THREE years ago Sara Walsh Delaney had a massive brain hemorrhage which occurred shortly after she returned home from her honeymoon.

The Marino woman subsequently spent two years in Beaumont Hospital and is currently in rehab in Dun Laoghaire.

For Sara to have the best possible chance of getting better she will need more specialised treatment in the UK.

A major campaign is underway to raise vital funds to send Sara to the Oxford Centre of Rehabilitation early next year to try and give her back the life that’s been on pause for the last three years. However, the cost of treatment, which is unavailable in Ireland, is between £1,500 and £1,800 a day and Sara, who has just turned 31, will need to be there for three months.

St Vincent de Paul Girls’ Primary School in Marino – Sara’s former school – is organising a major event to raise vital funds for the treatment.

Principal Pat McElwain, who has a background in music and theatre production, only recently became aware of the Sara’s heartbreaking story when he attended a fundraising quiz along with some of the teachers at the school.

“I have been in the school seven years and became Principal last year,

? Pat told Northside People.

“I only heard about Sara’s story in January. As it turned out there were a lot of coincidences. I realised I had played music with Sara’s sister Niamh and I played at her sister’s wedding.

“I also knew people in Baldoyle Musical Society and realised I had seen Sara on stage over the years.

“As it happens, we were looking to get a choir going in our school this year. We wanted to have an end-of-term event so we thought it would be the perfect opportunity to do a fundraiser for Sara also.

?

Pat said the original idea was to have a short recital by the newly formed school choir (5th and 6th class girls) in the hall and to invite parents along and charge them e5.

“However, the more I thought about it the more I felt that we could do something more, something bigger,

? he stated.

“I have a lot of friends in the entertainment industry from a past life and decided to send out an email to see if anyone would be willing to come on board to do a guest slot. The response was overwhelming.

“I now have a stellar cast which includes West End performers, television presenters, soloists, vocal groups, a BeeGees tribute band, a comedian, cast members of Fair City and many, many more.

“Of course with such a huge line-up I had to find a bigger venue. The Regency Hotel, Whitehall which holds up to 900 people, is now the venue for the show on Sunday, June 8 (8pm) and the concert is entitled ‘Lean on Me’

“We have a live seven-piece band made up of some of Ireland’s greatest musicians and an incredible technical team of sound engineers and lighting crew, all of whom are donating their expertise and equipment for free. Nobody is being paid to perform on the night.

?

Pat said the event will also provide a great showcase for the children.

“It’s great for them to also be able to reach out to someone in their own community,

? he said. Sara was just like them years ago attending the same school and wearing the same colour uniform. Her story strikes a chord with them.

?

Pat added:

“There are so many fundraising initiatives going on at the moment for Sara and we are delighted to be able to help out in this way.

?

The line-up so far is: Bronwyn Andrews (actress/singer), Megan Cassidy (RTE presenter)

Eoin Cannon (Riverdance and West End singer),

Geoff Minogue (Tommy Dillon in Fair City), Gearoid Farrelly (comedian), Rob Vickers (formerly Jean Valjean in Les Miserables in West End); Halleluia Gospel Choir, Sinead Mulvey (lead vocalist with Black Daisy, Ireland’s Eurovision entry 2009), Kathryn McKieran (singer/RTE presenter of The Den and Kazoo); The HEEBEEBEEGEES (Ireland’s greatest BeeGees Tribute Act); The Three Tenors Ireland,

Richie Hayes (star of Gaiety Panto and finalist in the Voice of Ireland); Shane Creevy (member of former boy band D’Side), Vicky Kenny (Ireland’s rising country music star), Grace Kinirons (West End performer who has played roles in Les Miserables, Phantom of the Opera and CATS), Damien Douglas (multi award-winning performer) and Dave Latham (multi-award-winning actor and comedian)

Tickets for what promises to be an incredible concert are just e15. For more information, contact the booking line on 089-2083585.