Rutland variety performance will honour Lorna Grey’s legacy
The family of a prolific fundraiser and dedicated volunteer is planning an event in her memory.
Lorna Grey, who died in April 2024, was known by many in Oakham as a volunteer for the Lions Club of Rutland, devoting her time during and after the pandemic to helping run vaccination clinics.
The 71-year-old was also a lifelong supporter of local charities, a former town councillor and had taught at Stamford Endowed Schools and Vale of Catmose College.
Now Lorna’s husband Allan, daughters Hanna and Lucy, friends and wider family members have joined forces under the banner of ‘Lorna’s Legacy’ to continue raising money for the causes that mattered to her.
Their first event will be ‘Lorna’s Legacy Presents A Rutland Variety Performance’, which will be held on the evening of Wednesday, July 23 at Oakham School.
Allan, who is secretary of the Lions Club of Rutland and a LincsOnline columnist, said: “Lorna’s was a life of helping others.
“She had managed Type 1 diabetes and its complications from the age of 11 and suffered a brain haemorrhage in 2004, yet she still went on to jump 632ft off the Sky Tower in New Zealand, abseiled off the Orbit at London’s Olympic Park and tackled the world’s fastest zipwire in North Wales, all to support charities.
“She was a committed volunteer for good causes and she continued this until the weeks before she died.”
He added: “Lorna was an inspiration to so many people. As a family, supported by our friends, we feel compelled to honour Lorna’s Legacy and so we are starting with a variety performance to help Supershoes, a charity she held dear.”
Donations at Lorna’s funeral raised more than £4,000 for this small, children’s charity. It was set up for children in the UK who are fighting cancer and provides customised shoes designed by volunteer artists to encourage the children to get out and about, to make them smile, and to help them to discover their own superpowers.
Allan said: “The team at Supershoes has been incredibly grateful for Lorna’s support and is delighted to have been chosen as the beneficiary of the first Lorna’s Legacy event.”
Rob Persani, of Rutland and Stamford Sound, will compère the evening and variety acts including musicians, dancers and comedians will perform. Details of the line-up will be announced soon.
Businesses have begun pledging their support through sponsorship and more can get involved by emailing Allan at allanjgrey@gmail.com.
There is a Lorna's Legacy Facebook and people wishing to witness one of Lorna’s most daring fundraising challenges can see it by searching for ‘Lorna's Leap’ on Facebook.
