The month started with PLASA’s on-going collaboration with the PSA, which saw a group cycle from Chippenham in Wiltshire to London Olympia on the Saturday before the PLASA Show to increase awareness of mental health within the entertainment and events industries. Not only did they achieve their awareness raising goal, they also raised £1,615 for Backup.
Next to show their support was the Lightpower Collection, which exhibits its impresive collection of rock‘n’roll art - of which legendary rock photographer Neal Preston’s work is the core - around the world, with proceeds from the sale of its original prints donated to Backup and US charity, Behind the Scenes. During the PLASA Show, Lightpower’s Ralph-Jörg Wezorke presented a cheque for $10K (approx. £7,700) to Backup chair John Simpson, who in return presented Lightpower with a Platinum Donor plaque in recognition of its outstanding ongoing support.
The evening of the Knights of Illumination (KOI) Awards saw Simpson introduce the new Backup video, which stars charity patron Simon Callow, Creative Technology’s Dave Crump, DiGiCo’s James Gordon, disguise’s Sarah Cox, Mark White from ETC and lighting designer Bryan Leitch explaining exactly what Backup does and how you can help. Long-time Backup supporter Claypaky also donated a generous £5,000 during the evening, and in recognition of its support Simpson presented CEO Pio Nahum with a Platinum Donor plaque.
Ambersphere also donated £5,000 to Backup on the KOI night, as well as launching a video at PLASA highlighting its own fundraising intuitive.
PLASA held its Innovation Awards on the Monday of the PLASA Show, with organisers LSi magazine donating £2,000 from the proceeds of the awards to Backup. Last, but by no means least, the end of September saw DiGiCo hold its annual Charity Quiz Night for the industry’s UK audio rental companies, where it raised a total of £8,626, which was split between Backup and the PSA Welfare and Benevolent Fund, Stage Hand.
“We’re incredibly grateful to everyone involved in raising funds for Backup,” says Simpson. “This year, the charity has granted over £32,000 in support of nine of our colleagues whose lives have been turned upside down because of serious illness or injury. We wouldn’t have been able to do that without the incredibly generosity of our supporters who give up their time so freely to help. The donations we’ve received during September mean we can continue supporting members of our industry family when they need it. A huge thank you to everyone involved.”
(Jim Evans) 
