City gig for Grenfell survivors

A CHARITY gig to raise funds for those affected by the Grenfell Tower disaster will be held in Cardiff tomorrow.

It will feature some of the leading lights in Welsh music, including Astroid Boys and Sonny Double 1, playing at the Freedom Church.

The fire that tore through the West London tower block, so far officially claiming 79 lives but with many more people still unaccounted for, has hit the local community hard and seen people from all over the UK wanting to help.

One of those is Derrick Bonsu, who is organising the charity show. Although he now lives in Cardiff, he is originally from West London.

“I grew up in West London and my best friends are from the area,” he said. “I grew up playing football in the area around the Westway.”

Derrick, a married father of two who attends the Freedom Church, described how he rang his friend on the night of the fire and was told just how desperate the situation was.

“Me and my wife were speaking to one of my best friends when he started informing me what was going on and how bad things were, as he could see the fire from his bedroom window,” said the 32-year-old, who works as a sports scientist at Bristol City Football Club. “My immediate reaction was to ask my friends how could I help. Me and my family are Christians and we believe we’re supposed to love each other and do what we can.”

After speaking to his friend, Derrick got a train to London on the Saturday after the fire, and found himself at St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington, where many injured were treated.

Derrick added: “What is urgently needed now is money to help these people rebuild their lives.”

The Grenfell Tower fundraiser is at Freedom Church, Trade Street, Cardiff, tomorrow at 7.30pm. The line-up includes Faith, Mace, Sonny Double 1, and Levi. Entry is £5.