THE family of an inspirational youngster are hosting a charity concert to raise funds for two charities close to their hearts.
On Sunday, March 5 Guiseley-based charity Marty's Penny Bank will stage ‘Fan4sia’ a concert of musical theatre at Yeadon Town Hall for Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital Charity and Cardiomyopathy UK.
Marty's Penny Bank was set up by Sarah Bishop, of Guiseley, when her son Marty was diagnosed with Cardiomyopathy, a disease of the heart muscle, before he was even born in 2010 and was given a very poor prognosis for survival.
But Marty is now aged 12 and defying his diagnosis under the watchful eye of the specialists at the world-renowned children's hospital in London.
Cardiomyopathy UK is a charity devoted to supporting families affected by disease of the heart muscle and proved a lifeline to the Bishops upon Marty’s diagnosis.
To support both Cardiomyopathy UK and Great Ormond Street, Sarah and Darren Bishop and family have raised over £70,000 since 2012 through staging various events from bun sales to corporate music nights and family and friends taking on extreme challenges such as skydiving and marathons. Their aim is to raise ten million pennies (£100,000) in the Marty Bishop fund at the charity Cardiomyopathy UK.
Sarah said: "In 2019 Marty was one of the faces featured in a national baking campaign by Great Ormond Street where his inspirational story was shared across the UK. He was also featured in the Jeans for Genes campaign with Genetic Disorders UK in 2015 and starred in the national media alongside other children with life-changing genetic disorders.
"Marty was recently diagnosed with Autism and finds daily life a challenge. On a very positive note, his heart currently has good function and the consultants are very pleased with how his heart has developed since diagnosis."
Fan4sia is the fourth in a succession of musical theatre nights staged by Marty's Penny Bank with the previous three having been described as stunning, professional and heart-warming. The family aim to raise £3,000 this Sunday with the concert at Yeadon Town Hall Theatre where many local, talented people will take to the stage to present some musical classics. The line-up includes professional singers as well as talented children from Leeds based musical theatre group ‘Little Cherries’ and Music-Box, an inspiring voice choir who will present a brand-new musical piece.
Tickets for the show at 6pm can be purchased via the Yeadon Town Hall website www.yeadontownhall.co.uk or Ticketsource and are priced at £15.
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