Lockdown Legend Ashley announces virtual music session for CLIC Sargent charity

Sidmouth's 'Lockdown Legend' has announced a virtual open mic music event to raise money for the charity supporting a friend whose three-year-old daughter has cancer.

Ashley Leeds wants to raise more than £6,000 for CLIC Sargent in recognition of the help it has given to his friend Will Vine, Will's wife Sarah and their daughter Lily, who live in Wellington.

The little girl was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer eight months ago and has since been undergoing aggressive treatment.

This month (February 2021) she began six weeks of intensive radiotherapy at the Bristol Royal Hospital for Children.

CLIC Sargent has supported the family from the start, providing care for Lily in hospital and at home. Will, Sarah and Lily are currently staying in accommodation near the hospital, provided by CLIC Sargent.

Will said: "There is so much we have to thank CLIC Sargent for. A huge benefit has been the ability to stay in CLIC Sargent accommodation near the hospital in Bristol whilst Lily undergoes her radiotherapy treatment.

"She has had to have a general anaesthetic every morning, five days a week for six weeks whilst she receives the radiotherapy, so having accommodation on the doorstep to the hospital is essential, particularly during these times of increased restrictions. It has saved us so much money on hotels and also the time and energy spent driving between Wellington and Bristol.

"To run this house costs £33.00 per family per day, and our target with the 24-hour event is to raise enough money to fund the facility for one family for six months – which is £6,022."

When is the virtual open mic session?

The fundraising event, called Lily's Live Lounge, will take place via Zoom and Facebook on Friday, March 12, and run for 24 hours.

It will feature Ashley himself and a host of other musicians performing from their own homes. Many are local to Sidmouth, others come from further afield.

Ashley said: "I have reached out to everyone I know over social media so people are just hearing by word of mouth. Plus I have been on BBC Radio Somerset and VoiceFM.

"We have someone from Ireland, and Germany, and currently speaking to Australia and Fiji because 2:00am to 5:00am may be hard to fill!

"We are doing it over Zoom and then simultaneously broadcasting over YouTube, because of restrictions we'll be beaming into people's own homes."

He said he was very keen to support CLIC Sargent in gratitude for what they have done for his friends: "What Lily, Sarah and Will have been through has been horrendous – even in 'normal' times - but the Covid social distancing rules have made it even harder for them, and their incredible strength and positivity really deserves celebrating.

"Only one parent at a time could be with Lily in hospital, and the restrictions have made it harder to have the contact and support of other children and their families who were going through a similar experience."

The event on March 12 will also mark Ashley's own 52nd open mic gig. He earned the title of Lockdown Legend for entertaining his neighbours during the first lockdown by playing his guitar in his garden, but he's also been organising virtual open mic sessions to replace the real-life musicians' meetings in the Balfour Arms which used to take place every month, with everyone playing a few songs. These online sessions have been taking place weekly for nearly a year.

To find out more and make a donation, visit the JustGiving page, and there is also a Facebook page.