Charity festival in memory of inspirational teenager Lulu Blundell raises funds for Teenage Cancer Trust

Kier Burke is organising the event this weekend at the Cutlers’ Arms in tribute to her late friend Lulu Blundell, with all proceeds going to the Teenage Cancer Trust.

Lulu, who died on New Year’s Day aged 19 after a long battle with Ewing’s sarcoma, raised thousands for the charity with gruelling challenges despite her condition.

Kier (22) said this Saturday’s event - where rock music memorabilia will be up for grabs - was “the simplest thing I could possibly do for Lulu’s family”.

One of the stages will be named after Lulu, of Aston, while the other is the Kate Wilkinson Stage in memory of a family friend who died earlier this year.

This is the second TCT festival in Lulu’s name, after the first took place last December.

“We did that while Lulu was still with us but unfortunately she was too poorly to attend,” Kier said.

“She named the festival herself, so we hope to keep doing it every year and make it an annual thing to raise money on Lulu’s behalf.”

This weekend’s will also feature an auction with an acoustic guitar donated by chart toppers The Reytons, a signed Rotherham United football and a signed Liverpool FC T-shirt.

Lulu was diagnosed with bone cancer aged 15 in 2019.

She raised tens of thousands of pounds for the Teenage Cancer Trust with a series of charity events and challenges and was nominated for a Pride of Britain Award in 2021.

Kier said organising the festival was “hard work but really rewarding when you know what it’s going towards”.

She added: “With what the charity did for Lulu when she was going through it, it’s the least we could do to help.”

Entry to Saturday’s event, which will be headlined by Joe Ward and Northern Quarter, is free of charge.

There will also be face painting, a raffle, temporary tattoos and beauty services on offer.

“We’re expecting around 200 people,” said Kier.

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