The Victoria Hall hosted the special charity Gala Concert - 'For the Girls!' on February 11 and 12, to raise money for the 'Women Fighting for Herceptin' cancer drug campaign. Over 180 people performed at the concert in total, including volunteers who sung in a 'mass choir'. The concert featured performances from the 'Stoke Youth' choir, Principle Company dancers and Tweedale Dance Company as well as leading solo artists including Andrew Talbot, Tony O'Rourke, John Hurst, Crag Wood and Anne McArdle. The Herceptin Ladies themselves also made a special appearance in a section dedicated to ladies theatre.  |
The fund raising evening also included a Grand Raffle with lucky winners of prizes such as £100 travel vouchers and 2 return long haul flights to exotic destinations! BBC Radio Stoke's Tim Wedgwood hosted the weekend and tracked down celebrities who sent best wishes on the night.
Tim said, "The atmosphere was electric. So much work had gone into the show and we were all really proud of it. Nothing can prepare you for a standing ovation fifteen minutes before the end. People were just really up for a great night and I know that some actually came back to see it again on the second night.
To have good luck messages 'for the girls' from the stars of stage, screen, fashion, sport and music was a nice touch and very much appreciated. There really has been tremendous support and it was a privilege to be a part of it" Helen Thomas went along to the event - listen to what she thought by clicking on the link below: They handed over a cheque for £15,000 on the night and were expecting to get another £1000 in collection. The women received many messages of luck - including Jonathan Wilkes and even Kylie Minogue who sent a message via her management company and who's currently recovering from breast cancer herself. Thank you's from 'For the Girls' Local people who have helped with the charity project are Larraine Hunter – musical director, assisted by Allison Fisher and Amanda Bossons (PR), Grant Walker (Co-ordination), Margaret Noyce (Wardrobe) Paul Whittaker (Stage Management) and Adrian Yearsley (Business Co-ordinator). Plus HSL Entertainment Management (Paul Heath and Warren Barlow) for lighting and sound for the production. | 
