A MEMORIAL fundraising concert is being held in honour of UB40 saxophonist Brian Travers thanks to a Shirley singer.
Ruby Mann, who performs under the name Ruby Ann Sings, knew Brian well and was inspired to organise the evening to raise funds for The Brain Tumour Charity.
The 56-year-old has organised for a number of fellow musicians to join her at the Sedgemere Sports and Social Club on Sedgemere on March 26 to honour Brian who died of a brain tumour last August, aged 62.
She said: “I was lucky to meet him for the first time on 2012, when I was selling his art work in a Birmingham city art gallery.
“His generosity of spirit was so evident, he always had time for you, and with his wealth of experience and knowledge he was a brilliant mentor to so many, including myself.
“I’m forever grateful to have known him and will always remember long chats, Face Times, the advice and laughter.”
The Entertainment Across the Decades will see Ruby joined on stage by fellow performers Beccie Marshall, Reza Farrell, Joseph Telecastervision and Paul PJ Shakespeare, who will all bring a different style to the event.
Ruby said: “The theme of the event just had to be music with Brian in mind. I really have to thank all my fellow artistes for their infectious enthusiasm towards this evening, you’ve touched my heart.
“It has been a lot of fun collaborating on this project, we are all really excited. It is going to be a fitting tribute to Brian, and an entertainment extravaganza.
“When I first started planning the evening, I was astounded by just how many people I know who have been affected directly or indirectly by this form of cancer. More needs to be done to fund research into brain tumours. We must work harder for a cure.”
The Brain Tumour Charity funds research to increase survival and improve treatment options as well as raising awareness of the symptoms and effects of brain tumours to bring about earlier diagnosis.
Kayleigh Lacey, the charity’s community fundraiser in the West Midlands, said: “We couldn’t be more grateful to Ruby and her fellow performers at the concert, for shining a light on brain tumours this brain tumour awareness month.
“Brain tumours are the biggest cancer killer of the under 40s and, unlike other cancers, survival rates have not improved over the last 40 years.
“It’s through the efforts of fundraisers like Ruby that we can change these shocking statistics in the future and bring hope to the thousands of people who are diagnosed with a brain tumour every year.”
