New girl band on song for Sweet Charity fundraising (From Wharfedale Observer)

Bethany Hare and friends on song to aid hospice

2:10pm Friday 29th June 2012 in News

An award-winning schoolgirl fund-raiser has launched her own girl band to support charity.

Twelve-year-old Bethany Hare has already raised more than £18,400 for Martin House Children’s Hospice, and has also set up her own charity to support sick children throughout the UK.

Now the Horsforth schoolgirl has joined forces with three friends to launch Sweet Charity girl group.

Bethany, whose fundraising began with her Charlie Chaplin-style short film followed by a Walk Of Smiles, has won a series of awards.

Her mum, Yvonne, said: “Bethany is continuously looking for new ideas to raise money and wants to support as many charities as possible, as she knows there are so many out there that all need help.

“Bethany felt Sweet Charity was a perfect way to encourage people to donate. Through seeing Bethany’s fundraising, her three friends are now also very keen to get involved, and what better way than to use their talent to raise money.”

Band members, aged 11 and 12, all attend stage schools and have an impressive list of TV and stage appearances between them.

They first joined forces to sing together at a Walk of Smiles fundraising event in Harrogate in May. The group went down a storm after just two hours of practice.

Millie Archer, Erin Chapman, Paige Tye and Bethany are now offering to sing at any charity events to encourage people to donate.

The girls, who have enlisted the support of singing teachers Helen Leaf and Jacqui Bell, are hoping songwriters will pen some tunes for them. The Pudsey-based charity Sound Sense, which works alongside recording studios, has offered to fund an album for the new band, with proceeds split between themselves and Bethany’s Smile.

Call 07906 699942 or e-mail bethanyssmile@virginmedia.com to book Sweet Charity to perform.