AMATEUR singers and local bands will brave the stage for terminally-ill patients and go head to head in Old Town in support of The Adver’s 160 Appeal.
The Victoria Pub will stage a karaoke competition from June 1 in support of the campaign to raise £160,000 for Prospect Hospice by the end of the year.
The sing-off will see scores of hopefuls compete to impress a trio of tough judges in four consecutive heats throughout June to make it to the grand final on July 20.
Donations for the appeal will be collected during each round on June 1, 8, 22 and 29 as well as the big finale and participants are being encouraged to get sponsored for their efforts.
The venue is also hoping to raise hundreds of pounds at a raffle on July 20. The karaoke contest seemed the perfect way to raise valuable funds for a worthy charity, according to pub owner Violet McLaren.
“We were having a meeting to plan all of it and that’s when we heard about the 160 appeal for Prospect,” said the 47-year-old from Old Town.
“We thought ‘Why not use it to collect for charity?’ “It is a charity important to a lot of our patrons and that means a lot to a lot of people. Most people know somebody who has been there or who will need it one day.”
A winner and runner-up will be selected from each heat as well as a couple of wild cards throughout the competition.
They will all come before a brand new judging panel, including the Adver’s features writer and columnist Barrie Hudson, at the final. She added: “It’s quite a big event the pub had been doing every year and when we took over last August we decided to keep this tradition alive,” she added.
“Previous winners will be judging the heats and we will have different judges for the final. It’s fun and entertaining, especially when you see the audience’s reaction. But it is also a platform for people to perform and to get out there.
“We hope people are generous and donate to Prospect. Even if they don’t want to perform they can come and support the event.” The overall winner will be awarded £150. Entry is free to find out more visit http://www.thevicswindon.com/get/main
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