THEY ARE the singing sensations that had millions of television viewers captivated and now they are adding their voices to a stunning line-up for a charity concert.
Sophie May Williams and Georgia Harrup, stars of the hit BBC talent contest The Voice UK, will take part in the Giving Disabled Children a Voice concert to raise vital funds for the U Support charity.
The pair offered their help after Christina Marie, who also performed on last year’s show, cancelled all live performances including the Southampton date.
It means Sophie and Georgia will join the likes of The Voice 2013 finalists Jamie Johnson, Emily Adams, Chris Royal, and winner Jermain Jackman for the much-anticipated event at the Mayflower Theatre.
Adam Gregory, chairman of U Support, said he was “disappointed” by Christina’s decision but was “delighted” to unveil the new additions.
U Support, which is based in the city’s Marlands Shopping Centre, was founded by Adam and his wife Tracey in 2003 and was established to provide children and young people with disabilities and disadvantages to attend football matches in the UK.
But the charity has grown to provide children and young people chances to enjoy other experiences such as rugby matches, fishing events, theatre shows, and pop concerts.
Adam said: “When I heard the news I was incredibly disappointed and upset that the public would not get the chance to see Christina Marie sing live as she is incredible.
“Nevertheless, we still have an unbelievable line-up with Jermain Jackman, the winner of The Voice UK, together with the other finalists Jamie Johnson, Emily Adams and Chris Royal appearing at Mayflower theatre to help raise funds for our charity.
“So I can’t tell you how delighted I was when Sophie May Williams and Georgia Harrup contacted me and said they would be happy to perform as well to help our charity. “They both have such a long way to travel to Southampton. I really can’t express my gratitude to them both for their wonderful support.”
He added that he has had the “privilege” to see all the finalists perform live at the finals of the BBC1 television show and can’t wait for others to enjoy the same experience.
“I can’t thank these artists enough for performing to help support the disabled and disadvantaged children we support through our U Support”, he said.
The concert takes place on October 9 and tickets are available from the Mayflower box office on 023 8071 1811
THE charity concert may still be weeks away but U Support got a head start on its fundraising over the weekend.
More than 200 guests attended the glitzy Sunseeker Charity Ball at the Grand Harbour Hotel in Southampton raising money for the disabled children’s charity.
The black-tie event featured entertainment from The Voice’s Emily Adams, who will be performing at the concert next month, and some stunning illusions from James Freedman, Magic Circle magician of the year.
Guests danced the night away to music from a Southampton Solent University band and U Support chairman Adam Gregory praised the community effort into putting the event on.
He said: “Sunseeker has become our patron and the Autumn Trust is supporting us as well and they are all doing so much to help disabled and disadvantaged children.
“We had a great band from Solent who are also performing at our concert and this has very much been a community-based project. It is wonderful to have so many people helping us.”
Pictured above are Adam and Tracey Gregory with The Voice’s Emily Adams at the Sunseeker Charity Ball.
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