Lazarus raises a treat for 300
kids
Monday 4th November 2002
(Article published with kind permission of Northeast Press
Limited,
Sunderland Echo)
By KEVIN CLARK
THE search is on for hundreds of Wearside children to enjoy
a Christmas treat, thanks to a city charity.
The Lazarus Foundation held a gala promenade concert at
Sunderland Empire last month to celebrate its work with the Sisters of Mercy.
More than 370 people attended the event and enjoyed a
selection of popular classics, wartime favourites and even the best of Abba, before
rounding off with a Last Night of the Proms-style line-up of classics including Rule
Britannia, Pomp and Circumstance and Jerusalem. Sunderland Symphony Orchestra was joined
by city soprano Sarah Busfield and the choir from St John Boste RC Primary School.
The event raised enough to buy 500 tickets for this
year’s Empire panto - Snow White - to distribute to local youngsters.
Now hundreds of those tickets are up for grabs.
The Lazarus Foundation has given 100 tickets each to Mayor
of Sunderland Coun Peter Gibson and to Coun Kevin O’Connor to distribute to worthy
causes.
And they are inviting representatives of children’s
organisations from across the city to get in touch and apply for a share of the remaining
300 seats.
"The tickets are for the evening performance on
Tuesday, December 17, and kids will be able to be accompanied by a parent," said
Lazarus spokesman Jeremy Stephens.
"We want to hear from youth clubs, schools, cub and
brownie packs, anyone who thinks they have youngsters who can benefit from these tickets.
"We want to say a big thank-you to everyone involved
in the concert and especially the management of the Empire for all the help they have
given us.
"They are even allowing us to put a nativity scene in
the foyer of the theatre to remind the children of the true meaning of Christmas."
Anyone wishing to apply for tickets can write to the
Lazarus Foundation, Customs House, West Sunniside, Sunderland.
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