With people in Launceston wanting to help as the conflict in Ukraine unfolded, Lanson 4 Ukraine was started earlier in the spring by a group of likeminded people in the community who wanted to use local talent to help raise some money.
With ideas for a big community event, the group booked the town hall, provided as a special donation by Mayor Leighton Penhale, and two weeks later Lanson 4 Ukraine would be putting on a show to remember.
Bands and musicians came forward offering to perform for free, food was kindly donated and served by Adi Harvey at Westgate Street Deli, while Richard ‘Ringo’ Cole offered use of his events bar and Firebrand Brewing Co supplied the beer and lager for the event. Medics from the Peninsula Medics company offered their services, while sponsors from Gateway Tile & Slate, Smiley Happy People, Tinhay Lifton and Terry Graves Electrical came together to get things organised.
A second stage was built by Lee Sandercock, with Graham Sleeman providing the lights and PA system, plus Route 2 Events for the main stage, to accommodate the increasing number of musicians being booked for the event.
On Saturday, 19th March the event started early with breakfast, before the children’s activities with Smiley Happy People, Lifton Beaver Scouts and Launceston Library got started, offering face painting, sunflower seed planting, crafts and more. As well as this, there were tombolas for the adults, raffles and cake stalls, plus the music got underway with Launceston Town Band and Popchoir who then headed into town to continue their performances.
Music was varied throughout the day, from gentle acoustics in the afternoon, to proper Cornish favourites with The Countrymen, and thanks to Graham Sleeman and Mike Osbourne setting up backstage, everything went smoothly.
With food, drink, gifts, plenty of great entertainment and a whole lot of community spirit throughout the town that day, Lanson 4 Ukraine’s mammoth fundraising event managed to achieve more than £7,000, which has been sent to DEC Ukraine and UNICEF Ukraine.
If you were unable to support the event on the day, but would like to donate, Lanson 4 Ukraine’s Just Giving page is still open and can be accessed via their Facebook page.
The organising team said: “The little Cornish town we live in absolutely did us proud. Everyone was there to help or to have fun raising money. Thank you, all.”