BUDE Beats’ dance group’s first ever show has raised more than £1,500 in support of CLIC Sargent, which has helped many of the youngsters who have been affected by cancer.

The show was held at Penstowe Manor, Kilkhampton, recently, organised by Bude Beats instructors Lisa Wood and Kaylie Wright.

Some members of Bude Beats have either had cancer, or have family members who have been affected by cancer. These include Maizie and Poppy Bennett, whose brother Ben has stage 4 neuroblastoma cancer, and Bude Beats’ Lavis McDougall-Gittins who had childhood leukaemia. Another member, Sian Griffiths, has a sister, Chloe, who too had childhood leukaemia.

Lisa Wood said: “Within our group of children, CLIC Sargent have really helped them out.”

As well as lots of rehearsals — Lisa estimated she and Kaylie put it 160 hours of unpaid work to bring the show together — they with Ben Bennett’s mother Natalie held an art workshop in half term at Poughill Village Hall to make the décor for the show.

Lisa added: “Everyone said about the show it was completely unique and different to everything else. Everything had a meaning, how children are the future and they can change the world, it was very powerful.”

Themes portrayed included the ivory trade and blood diamonds, and Lisa added the ‘amazing event’ raised £1,638.25.

Thanks were expressed to Simon Carey at Penstowe Manor who let them use the venue, to Alex Jesson of Matrix Productions, and to Bude yoga instructor Rosie Lewis who carried out a yoga session for those taking part in the show.

Lisa added: “Thanks to all the parents and grandparents who helped — you know who you are and all the staff of Penstowe. It was a really magical show.”

Bude Beats was formed nearly three years ago as a family, a like-minded community, a group of children who have something to say. Dance is their chosen medium by which they can express and communication what they have to say, through movement, through music, through spoken word.