For example, we did 2 major concerts in Lisburn’s Island Centre in 2012 to support Mark Pollock.
The Sublime and the Ridiculous concerts put on by members of Lambeg Players for two nights in May 2012 in Lisburn’s Lagan Valley Island Theatre raised a total of £7,500 for the Mark Pollock Trust.
For over a decade Mark Pollock was known as an inspiration, an adventure athlete competing in the world’s harshest environments despite becoming completely blind at the age of 22. On the night of the 2ndof July 2010 everything changed again. He fell from a second story window fracturing his skull, some ribs and breaking his back in a number of places leaving him paralysed from the waist down.
The Mark Pollock Trust was formed to raise significant funds to assist with the capital and ongoing costs specifically associated with his spinal injury – including a team of rehabilitation specialists, physiotherapy equipment, visits to specialised spinal injury activity-based recovery centres and mobility solutions.
The Sublime and the Ridiculous show was put on by five entertainers, Elizabeth Ross, Laura Kerr, Colin Boyd and brothers Ian and Paul Bennington accompanied by well known Lisburn musician Geoffrey Cherry along with pianist Loreto McAuley and percussionist Jeremy Hoy.
Mark Pollock has a particular place in the hearts of Lambeg Players as his mum Barbara and sister Emma are both active members and Colin Boyd is Mark’s uncle. Mark himself was involved in the Lambeg Players’ pantomimes as a youngster.
Mark and his family and everyone concerned with the event would like to express their sincere gratitude to the people of Lisburn for supporting the shows and being such wonderful audiences.