With a Shout
SIXTIES superstar Lulu was in dazzling form as she rolled back the years to perform at the finale of a jaw-dropping night of fundraising in Manchester. Lulu was the star guest as inspirational fundraiser Michael Josephson MBE launched his inaugural Summer Ball.
And the 400 guests at the glittering charity bash at the Hilton Hotel on Deansgate helped to raise a staggering £256,900 on the night.
ALL of that money will go directly to Michael’s three chosen charities for his first summer event – to Variety, the children’s charity, the Seashell Trust and the Frost Foundation.
Star guests at the glittering ball included Corrie’s Debbie Rush, film star Warwick Davis, lifestyle gurus Nik and Eva Speakman and Hollyoaks star Nicole Barber-Lane.
Lulu, in stunning form in a sparkling red jacket, took a night off from her starring role in West End show 42nd Street especially to perform at the event, after hearing Michael’s inspiring story of overcoming his own traumatic childhood to become a devoted fundraiser having already raised £3.4m for the Childline charity in the North West in recent years.
Lulu told the M.E.N: “I’ve got tonight off from the show in the West End to perform here because of Michael’s story and the great job he’s doing for worthwhile causes, basically that’s the only thing that is important in life, if you can be of service to others.
“People like Michael, whenever they reach out their hand, it’s hard to say no. It’s so important to support people like that.”
Thousands were raised at the ball, hosted by DJ Darren Proctor, through a grand charity auction, with a stunning Bee Proud sculpture by Emma Rodgers raising £40,000 as well as a bespoke artwork by Mackenzie Thorpe inspired by Michael’s story.
Michael, 42, suffered horrific abuse in his childhood, which resulted in him trying to end it all by jumping off a bridge at the age of 20 – but he miraculously survived and went on to set up his successful business Stocks Ltd, and was inspired to raise millions for charity to try to help other vulnerable children.
The artwork Entitled No One To Catch Me? showed a figure poised on a precipice, and the portrait raised an incredible £40,000.
The event began with a spinetingling performance by the Liverpool Signing Choir, before Lulu took to the stage at the finale of the night.
We last saw Lulu in Manchester last year when she joined Take That on stage at the launch of the premiere of The Band musical when she surprised the audience by joining Gary Barlow, Mark Owen and Howard Donald on Relight My Fire.
It was a song she reprised again during her stellar set at the Hilton Hotel – which got the crowds dancing – as well as her global hits To Sir With Love and of course her 1964 classic Shout which near brought the house down.
Lulu said it was great to be back in Manchester, a city which holds many happy memories.
She said: “I used to come to Manchester all the time when I first started, so I feel very comfortable in Manchester. I used to go to the Phonograph all the time, that was the place to go, it was the best disco in Manchester.
“I used to go there with Mike Summerbee and George Best. I also used to go to Manchester City and Manchester United – I had friends in both teams and my brother used to come with Rod [Stewart]. So I have a lot of good memories of Manchester.”