Bridlington father presents £1,500 cheque to Scarborough theatre group in honour of his daughter
A Bridlington father who tackled two running challenges in honour of his daughter has raised £1,500 for Y Perform in Scarborough.
Stephen Blackford took part in the Great North Run as well as the Yorkshire Marathon as a tribute to daughter Chelsea Blue, who sadly passed away in April 2021 while at Cygnet Mental Health Hospital.
Y Perform is a musical theatre group for youngsters based in Scarborough. The children in the group chose a special outfit for Mr Blackford’s intense running challenge – a pantomime dame – which proved to be an eye-catching choice that brought smiles to many.
Two of Mr Blackford’s daughters, Madison, 17, and Scarlet, 8, attend the group.
Mr Blackford said: “I am proud at how well my other four daughters have fared since losing their big sister.
"I believe Y Perform provided them with a safe space to be whoever they wanted to be, learning new skills, not only on the stage but key skills for life – giving them confidence to be on a big stage and making forever friendships.
“Clubs like this are very important and sometimes overlooked when it comes to a child’s wellbeing – that’s why I’m raising funds for Y Perform.”
Evie McGlinchey and Liam Downe are both leaders at Y Perform.
Liam Downey said: “YMCA Scarborough is more than an theatre and a dance class. It's a community where young people can feel like they can belong, where they can find their spark, their voice and their confidence.
"YMCA Scarborough doesn't receive any funding from the locally authority and must earn its income through fees, kind donations and sponsorships. We are incredibly appreciative of Steve for the amazing achievement and raising vital funds for Y Perform.”
Evie McGlinchey said “The team at Y Perform would like to say a huge thank you to Steve, who has raised £1500 for our theatre group, we are incredibly grateful for this support.
"The money will go directly into our future productions, helping us create better costumes and set so our young people can continue to shine on stage.
"Being able to give our students more opportunities is such a blessing and we are so thankful to be able to continue making musical theatre accessible to the young people of Scarborough!”