A SONG and dance is being made over helping the thousands who suffer from a serious debilitating condition.

Musicians and singers across the North West are hoping to inspire a charitable spirit from their audience in a special concert in Victoria Hall next month.

A Musical Showcase has been organised to raise funds for the Brain Research Trust, a charity which supports research into neurological conditions, including dementia.

The event has been organised by saxophonist Paul Heptinstall, from Bamber Bridge, whose mother Moira suffered from vascular dementia for six years before her death at the age of 83 on New Year’s Eve 2015. He said: “Dementia affects one in four people, just about every family is touched by it in some way or another.

“For the last 18 months of my mother’s life she didn’t know who I or my family were.

“It is very distressing to cope with, it is like looking after a stranger because they don’t know who you are.

“I wanted to focus on raising money to put into research to try and eliminate this disease.

“I wanted to make a difference, however small that might be and so I decided to put on this concert. I went for the biggest venue in the area thinking big because I wanted to sell as many tickets as I could to raise as much as I could from this one-off event.”

Mr Heptinstall, who has been a professional musician for 27 years, has gathered a number of different performers for the evening who are donating their time and talent for free.

They include the GMP Symphonic Wind Band, Manchester Show Choir, John Norcott, Penny Nicholls and the Scots Guard Association Pipes.

Taking place on October 7 from 7.30pm, it will be hosted by Chris Boyle with music from famous shows including Les Miserables, Lion King and Phantom of the Opera.

Tickets cost £10 for adults, £5 for under 18s, and a family of four get a child seat free with a family ticket at £25.

They can be purchased from the box office at Victoria Hall, in Worsley Street, or at www.ticketsource.co.uk/brainresearchtrust.