A former professional dancer from Ipswich will return to the stage this month in a bid to raise £10,000 for the charity that supported his father’s cancer fight.
Performer Samuel Biscoe, 29, left his dancing career in Miami in July last year and “jumped on the next flight home” to support dad Jon, 63, who had just been diagnosed with “life-threatening” leukaemia.
Now a box office clerk at New Wolsey Theatre, and an assistant customer service manager at DanceEast, Samuel wants to thank cancer charity Anthony Nolan in the “biggest way possible” – by throwing a concert for them at New Wolsey.
The life-saving charity worked for months to provide Jon with a transplant at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge, and his son has said he is now “doing well”.
“We couldn’t have done this without them”, said Samuel. “It really has been such a struggle if I’m honest. Dad lost his mum to Myelodysplasia while he was in Ipswich Hospital having chemotherapy, which is associated with leukaemia.
“My mum has taken months off work and I’ve left my job – but there was no way we were ever going to leave dad to deal with this on his own.
“I felt like this concert, which we’re calling Anthony Nolan Live is a great way for us to thank them, because I work at the New Wolsey and I’ve got quite a few contacts in the industry.”
Special guests at the concert, which takes place on May 22 and is hosted by BBC’s Countryfile and the One Show presenter Joe Crowley, include comedian Kim Harrison, who is flying over from America, Stars in their Eyes winner Tracey Shield, and the Wattisham Military Wives Choir.
Throughout the evening, published writer Katie Ward will read an excerpt from local published author and leukaemia survivor Penny Hemans, while an on-site auction will give audience members the chance to win top prizes, including a London helicopter flight and a signed Portman Road street sign donated by Ipswich Town Football Club.
Presenter Joe Crowley said: “Not only is this going to be a fantastic evening of music and merriment with wonderful acts but this is a unique chance to sit, be entertained and save lives at the same time. Being a hero in Suffolk on a Sunday night has never been easier.”
More than £7,000 has been raised so far for Anthony Nolan Live, but Samuel has said he hopes more tickets will be bought to reach the grand total of £10,000 in the next two weeks.
“We’ve been overwhelmed with how generous the people of Ipswich and Suffolk are. I can’t believe we’ve managed to raise so much in such a short space of time, and we’re nearly there now – we’ve hit 75% of our goal.
“Anthony Nolan is such a brilliant charity and they deserve this concert. It’s going to be a fantastic night.”
The 29-year-old performer will also be hosting a preview event in the Sailmakers Shopping Centre on May 15, from 11-1pm with the help of Colchester-based Evolution Foundation College.
Tickets for Anthony Nolan Live, which takes place at 7pm on May 22, are available through New Wolsey Theatre on 01473 295900 or at wolseytheatre.co.uk.
To find out more, or to sponsor the concert, visit facebook.com/anthonynolanlive.
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