MORE than 100 people joined west Cumbrian-born singer/ songwriter Francis Dunnery in a weekend of sponsored activities to raise money for local charities.
The former It Bites front man also played two charity gigs, attended by around 400 people, during the annual fundraising weekend for the Charlie and Kathleen Dunnery Children’s Fund, which he set up in memory of his parents.
Francis, who has carved out a successful music career in America, where he is now based, led a 77-strong group in a sponsored walk around Ennerdale on Saturday.
The walkers included youngsters from Bookwell School from his native Egremont, which will receive cash from the fund this year.
Six football teams took part in a five-a-side tournament at Wyndham School on Sunday.
Francis also performed with David Sancious and Dorie Jackson at a sell-out concert at Rosehill Theatre in Whitehaven on Saturday, which proved so popular a second gig had to be organised for Sunday to cope with demand. Half the proceeds from that concert with go to the South Asia Earthquake Appeal.
Francis told the News & Star: “It’s really humbling to be supported by people from my home town. I can’t believe how enthusiastic people have been.”
Last year the fund raised £4,000 for Francis’s old school – St Bridget’s RC School in Egremont.
The charity, which aims to help improve the health and education of children in Egremont and the surrounding area, hopes to have raised a similar amount this year.
PUBLISHED OCTOBER 24, 2005
Published in News & Star