A special night with a swing band and dancers is a Valentine’s Day fundraiser for children’s charities in memory of a Mytholmroyd youngster.
Little Jake Booth was diagnosed with the life-limiting Batten Disease in 2012 and his family received a tremendous amount of support from the community in Mytholmroyd, Hebden Bridge and the upper valley.
Sadly, Jake passed away at the age of five just before Christmas and this event will be a tribute to him, with money raised going to two charities which care for children, the Forget-Me-Not Children’s Hospice in Kirklees and Calderdale and the Martin House Children’s Hospice at Wetherby.
Organiser Claudette Roberts explained how the event, which will feature some superb swing music from the 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s and beyond from The Little Big Band, performances by the Leeds University Swing Society Lindyhop Dancers, an instant photo studio with a professional photographer, more music from DJ Bobski and a charity auction, came about.
“In December, Paul Gwilliam of The Little Big Band asked me if they could help out with fundraising for the Booth family by holding an event for them. Everything was put in to place for this when Jake became really poorly and sadly he passed away just before Christmas.
“We put the planning on hold and talked to Jo and Joel, Jake’s parents, as to whether they still wanted anything to go ahead.
“Jo and Joel thought that by going ahead with the event it would be a tribute to Jake, and that the monies raised should go to Forget-Me-Not and Martin House, the two children’s hospices that provided care and support for the whole family.”
Called A Swingin’ Valentine’s Affair, the night takes place at Mytholmroyd Community Centre on Friday, February 14, from 7.30pm and tickets, at £12, can be bought from Mytholmroyd Community Centre, the Hare and Hounds pub at Wadsworth and at Fleur De Lys florists in Crown Street, Hebden Bridge. There is also a ticket hotline on 01422 883023.
If any businesses would like to donate prizes to the raffle or the auction they can be taken to Fleur de Lys.