Frankie’s stand-up gig for Lincoln’s op
COMEDIAN Frankie Boyle has helped raise £20,000 to send a little boy from Wales for a lifechanging operation after his mum approached him on social media.
The Glasgow funnyman agreed to play a one-off gig in Cardiff after Jess Hope contacted him via Facebook, asking him to perform a fundraiser for her son Lincoln, from Garndiffaith, Torfaen, who has cerebral palsy.
To the mother of two’s surprise, Boyle agreed straight away, provided she could book a venue. So Jess rang up St David’s Hall and the controversial performer will now host a charity night with fellow comic Francesca Martinez there on September 9.
All funds will help pay for five-yearold Lincoln’s £100,000 operation – and nearly half the tickets have already gone, Jess said.
“I contacted Frankie directly. I thought I would just try it and ask. I was being cheeky. I was trying to think about ideas for fundraising and thought it would be great to have support from a famous person.
“Francesca Martinez is a comedian with cerebral palsy, so I got on Twitter and asked her to retweet our fundraising campaign and asked if she’d do a comedy night, She told me she knew a few comedians and I saw on her Facebook she was friends with Frankie Boyle, so I messaged him. He said yes, but I had to find a venue.
“I’ve never done anything like this before so I rang up St David’s Hall and explained I had a couple of top comedians wanting to do a charity gig and they gave me some dates.”
More than 940 tickets have already been sold, stacking up £20,000 for the £100,000 fund.
True to form, the controversial funnyman took to Twitter recently to promote the gig in customary direct style, tweeting: “Before I take a wee break from this b ****** , a reminder of this benefit in Cardiff in September.”
Francesca Martinez has also taken to social media tweeting: “@frankieboyle and I are doing this show on Sat 9th Sep to raise money for 4-year-old Lincoln who’s wobbly!”
The surgery in America, which is booked for next April, along with postoperative physiotherapy, will enable Lincoln to walk, run and live a painfree life, she says. Because the NHS doesn’t offer the surgery, the family has to fund it themselves.
Jess and civil servant husband Richard, both 39, who also have a younger son, four-year-old Jasper, set up the Lincoln’s Legs appeal.
To donate, visit: www.virginmoneygiving.com/fund/lincolnslegs
To buy tickets for the show, costing £26.50, visit www.stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk/whats-on