The first major fundraising event of the newly-formed Graham Wylie Foundation will see some of the leading names in music perform in the North East at the launch of the inaugural Rock n Raise, ‘making every note count’, concert.
The Kaiser Chiefs have already been confirmed as one of the acts playing at the event, which will take place at the Newcastle Metro Radio Arena on the evening of the Great North Run on 11th September, supported by the Great Run Company.
Irish rock band Kodaline will also be performing, with other acts to be announced in the coming months.
High profile celebrities from the region and beyond have already offered their support for the initiative, including Ant and Dec, Alan Shearer and Roger Daltrey CBE.
Rock n Raise is in aid of Teenage Cancer Trust, Nordoff Robbins and the Graham Wylie Foundation. All monies raised will stay in the region.
Launched by Graham Wylie, the founder of Sage and one of the North East’s best known entrepreneurs, the Graham Wylie Foundation is one of a rare few charities anywhere in the world to hand 100% of donations to deserving causes, with Graham meeting all running, staff and administration costs to ensure every single penny raised and donated goes to his aim of helping, inspiring and educating children across the region.
Angie Jenkison, the Graham Wylie Foundation’s chief executive, said: “We’re absolutely thrilled to be launching Rock n Raise in the North East on Great North Run day.
“This is a major coup for the region and will see some of the UK’s leading musicians and bands arrive on Tyneside. It will also be our first major fundraising event for the Foundation which we hope to establish annually. I’m delighted to partner with the Teenage Cancer Trust and Nordoff Robbins for this exciting initiative, in what will be a ground-breaking event for the Graham Wylie Foundation.”
Kaiser Chiefs frontman Ricky Wilson will be starting the run and taking part for the first time; featuring on the BBC coverage on the start line and a big part of the day.
Ricky Wilson, said: “We can’t wait to come up to Newcastle to support such deserving causes. The North East is always a special place to perform, the crowd is always amazing and it’s impossible not to feel energised when the audience is so fantastic, even if you have just run half a marathon.”
Great North Run founder Brendan Foster, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Ricky to join us at the Great North Run. It’s fantastic our entrants will get the first opportunity to join the party, and we hope many of them will get behind this fantastic cause.”
Siobhan Dunn, Chief Executive of Teenage Cancer Trust, said: “Music is at the heart of Teenage Cancer Trust and the young people we work with, so it’s great to be part of such a fantastic show with the backing of so many of the North East’s biggest names. Our friends the Kaiser Chiefs have been great supporters over the years and are a brilliant choice to take part. Right now for every young person we support there is another we can’t reach, and this fantastic event will help us change this.”
Julie Whelan, Chief Executive, Nordoff Robbins said: “Nordoff Robbins is really excited to be part of the inaugural year for the Graham Wylie Foundation, Rock n Raise event and extremely grateful to the Kaiser Chiefs for being part of this very special night of music. The money raised through this event will help us develop our work in Newcastle and will enable many more vulnerable people to access life changing music therapy.”
Paul Tappenden General Manager of the Metro Radio Arena said: “We are absolutely delighted to be involved with such an incredible project, and proud to be working alongside North East devotees Brendan Foster and Graham Wylie supporting such iconic charities. The Great North Run is now an iconic international event that places the North East on the world stage”.
Metro Radio has been confirmed as the official media partner of Rock n Raise.
Dominic Munnelly Station Director Metro Radio said: “This unique concert promises to bring another exciting attraction to the Great North Run weekend so we are delighted to be involved in promoting it on the station and helping the Foundation achieve their fundraising targets.”
Tickets costing £25.00 & £35.00 will go on sale 9.00am Friday 3rd June 2016 and are available online, from the booking hotline number 0844 493 6666 or from 10.00am in person from the Metro Radio Arena Box Office.
Tickets are available from:-
- Credit Card Booking and Information Line 0844 493 6666
- The Metro Radio Arena Newcastle Box Office (Mon – Fri: 10.00am – 4.00pm, Sat: 11.00am – 2.30pm)
- Internet Site:- www.metroradioarena.co.uk
- Group Bookers should call (0191) 260 6006
- Accessible Bookings should call (0191) 260 6066 for further details