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Sarah, Duchess of York explains the family heartache that makes charity concert so important


June 27, 2016
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Sarah, Duchess of York and Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie have given the royal seal of approval to a glamorous black tie concert which is being held this summer - and it's all for a worthy cause.

The concert aims to raise funds for heart disease and stroke prevention charity Haste, and the James Wentworth-Stanley Memorial Fund - which was set up by James' parents Clare and Nick after James sadly took his own life, aged 21, in December 2006. The organisation helps to raise awareness of anxiety, depression and suicide amongst young people and to tackle the terrible and shocking statistic that suicide is the leading cause of death amongst young men in the UK.  

sarah ferguson© Photo: Getty Images

Sarah, Duchess of York and her two daughters will be attending the concert

Acts scheduled to appear in the special gig in Surrey on 2 July include Mike Rutherford from Genisis and Queen's Roger Taylor.

Speaking to HELLO!, the Duchess has explained why this concert and the cause is so close to her heart.

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"I have been involved in charitable endeavours for over thirty years now and have seen many tragic and miraculous things in that time. In thinking about what has had the biggest effect on me are those incidents that have hit close to home, and nothing could have been closer than James Wentworth-Stanley.

concert 1

"He was family - very dear to my daughters and me - and nobody saw this coming and this is why the Wintershall concert is so important. The funds raised go directly to aid us being able to support those who aren't able to ask for help. We must learn more and be able to spot the warning signs, no matter how subtle, in order to save precious lives; lives that are taken from us all too soon. Please help us be the voice for silent whispers and support Clare and Nick and the James Wentworth-Stanley Memoral Fund."

The last concert held for the Fund took place in 2011, raising more than £100,000 for the charity's causes. This year, the concert will take place in the stunning grounds of the Wintershall Estate in the Surrey Hills, and will see other class acts including The Darkness, Jeff Beck and Kenney Jones perform for the crowd.

concert

The creators of the event are offering a third off to NHS staff, with concert promoter Edward Hutley saying the discount is in gratitude to the "true heroes." He said: "What the staff at the NHS do on a daily basis is incredible and they are true heroes. Through first-hand experience and as a Trustee of HASTE (The Heart and Stroke Trust Endeavour), I have personally seen to what lengths the staff will go to give the best care they can. 

"We hope this small gesture from us will go a little way to showing how grateful we are, and we hope to see you all out of your scrubs and into your black tie regalia to let off some steam." 

For tickets please visit www.wintershallconcerts.co.uk 

General admission is £150 per person. Tickets for 25's and under and NHS staff are priced at £100 per person.

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