Express & Star

Benefit gig for tragic teenager sells out

A charity concert for a brave teenager who died in early 2014 after a seven year fight with a brain tumour has sold out.

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Aldridge youth charity event BENefit Gig returns for its fourth year later on March 24, in the week which would have marked Ben Sambrook's 19th birthday.

The Aldridge student passed away in February 2014 at age 14 following years of fighting a brain tumour with gruelling surgery and treatment.

Just 10 days before his death, his friends held the first BENefit Gig to raise awareness of the disease and money for brain tumour charities.

Julie Homfray, who is helping to promote the gig, which will be held at the Killock in Aldridge, said: "Ben’s wish was for the gig to continue - to raise money and to give young people of Aldridge the opportunity to showcase talent and to have a local, safe night out.

"The event has now become an annual event and attracts audience members and bands from schools and colleges all around the region."

This year, Aldridge School’s ‘Interact Club’, a group of 6th formers committed to local fundraising, have also been promoting the event, which is likely to sell out for the second year running.

Sunday 44, a Walsall 6 piece band will return to headline the line-up.

Birmingham band The Real Cool are looking forward to making their first appearance at BENefit Gig, with more sets from Aldridge bands Underground Storm and Archers.

Ben’s younger sister Emily Sambrook will headline the Aldridge Media Acoustic Stage

Tickets for the show are sold out - with all profits going to Brain Tumour Support.

Ticket information can be found on the gig’s Facebook page ‘BENefitGig’, or call the box office on 01922 456742.