A CHARITY which aims to ensure young people can take part in performing arts has been launched in memory of a dale choir leader who was killed in a car accident.
Mum-of-two Amy Purvis was just 36 when she died after her car was hit by a drink-driver as she was returning to her Richmond home from a rehearsal of the Euphoria Choir in December 2021.
The choir continued with Amy’s sister Beth coming forward as leader before performing a final show in December 2022.
In the meantime, family and friends from the choir began raising funds to set up a charity to continue Amy’s passion for helping young people take to the stage.
Some £7,000 has been raised and the Euphoria Trust for Creative Arts has now been registered.
Cloedie Yeadon, one of the charity’s seven trustees, said: “Amy was very keen for all children to have the opportunity to perform when she ran the choir.
“Her dedication to creative arts and personal touch made a huge impact on many lives.
“We decided to set up the charity in her memory to help children who were missing out.”
One of the stated aims of the charity is to promote the creative arts for young people in Teesdale and offer financial support to those who need it.
This could include covering the costs of music or dance lessons and paying for instruments or equipment.
Ms Yeadon said the trust would be working with schools and other organisations across the dale to identify those who could benefit and refer them to the charity.
“We are just finding our feet at the moment and putting information packs together to send out.” The bulk of the cash to launch the trust was raised during a fundraising walk along the 73-mile Cumbria Way in October 2022, which included donations from dale organisations such as The Clique, Rotary, Smiths and Wycliffe Church and many individual sponsors.
Ms Yeadon said fundraising activities would continue with another walk planned in September.
This time, the group aims to tackle the 80-mile Dales Way from Ilkley to Bowness. She said setting up the charity had been a long process.
“It was not something we had done before, so we had a lot of help.
“Now it’s a case of getting round everyone, promoting it and making sure people are aware of it,” she added.
Anyone who would like more information about the charity can email euphoria [email protected].
