A SONG and dance extravaganza is being held to launch The Wayne Howard Trust, a new charity that will provide help and information to victims of brain injuries.
Readers will remember father-of-three, Wayne Howard, from the Daily Echo-backed campaign which raised £30,000 for his treatment at the end of 2002 at the renowned Schmeider Clinic in Germany.
Wayne had been a keen motorcyclist, who had raced in the Manx GP, until he was injured in a horrific road accident that led to his right leg being amputated and left him with severe brain damage to the extent that sometimes he could not even recognise his own children.
Life looked bleak for the 34-year-old former martial arts fan until his partner Tracy Goodwin, 35, saw a programme about the clinic on television showing the incredible medical feats that it had achieved.
Big-hearted Echo readers helped to raise the funds to send Wayne to the clinic through a variety of madcap events and ever since he has made good progress.
Now his family hope to help others with their experience and have founded the trust to offer information to other brain injury victims and, later, attempt to build a clinic in the UK. Many people touched by Wayne's plight have contributed to this tremendous event including pupils from Regents Park Girls School who will be singing in a choir.
Wayne's mum Isobel said: "It's going to be fantastic. All the singers are amateur and are giving their time to launch the charity with a bang. It's going to be a great night."
The fundraising concert takes place tomorrow at the Turner Sims Concert Hall, Southampton University in Highfield at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £9.50, or £7.50 for concessions, and are available on 023 8059 5151.