The Verse’s Tamara Stidwell tells us about the Poetry Marathon for refugees taking place at the Komedia on the 11th December.
On Sunday 11th December from 12 noon to 10pm at the Komedia Brighton, a literary marathon is going to be taking place and all for a very good cause! The race is on as a relay of 60 poets, readers and writers perform all sorts of linguistic laps. These charitable champions each have 8 minutes to run their tongues and minds in this philanthropical-extravaganza.
Raising their voice to raise funds for the School Bus Project and the Refugee Council this is going to be a day of commonailty, charity and creativity. This eclectic range of writers and poets from all walks of life have been set the challenge to raise £500 sponsorship each for their slot. Already the Poem-a-thon team have smashed the event target of £20,000, but it doesn’t stop there. One of the organisers Michaela Ridgway, the host of Brighton’s groundbreaking Pighog Poetry events, hopes to do what Brighton does best, sharing the love in these tough times of adversity. “Audience members can join us at any time throughout the day, staying for as long or as short a time as they wish. There will be refreshments, a bookstall and tombola as well as information about our charity.”
One of the charities being supported on the day the Brighton based School Bus Project is a mobile school working directly with refugees. Beginning humbly, these volunteers started from a mini-bus in the Calais ‘Jungle’ offering education, warmth and humility to the displaced refugees. ‘A group of educators and activists who care passionately about learning as a human right for everyone’ they continue to work hard, ‘providing stability, structure and hope for the future.’ Money raised on the day will help turn more buses into mobile schools and train more teachers to give life-changing education to those struggling from the consequences of conflict and disaster.
Michaela has opened a JustGiving page online sending direct funds to the Refugee Council and so far has raised over £600. You can make a donation here: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/brightonpoemathon
