A FUNDRAISING group formed after an Alexandria girl was diagnosed with a serious lung condition is hoping people in West Dunbartonshire will back their latest event.

Harper’s Helpers are to present Hope, a fundraising showcase for local dancers and singers, in aid of the Royal Hospital for Children and the Child UK Lung Foundation.

The event takes place at Denny Civic Theatre on Friday, March 3, and Saturday, March 4, from 6.30pm.

Among the schools to perform will be Singer Station, Dawn’s Dance Academy, Sutherland School of Dance, Nicola McGregor School of Dance, Primo Dance, Believe Dance Academy and Alana Rose Irish Dance Company.

Emily Fraser and Tyra Ross are also being lined up to perform, while Nicola Park Dance Academy have kindly provided a donation to the event as they can’t appear that particular weekend due to other commitments.

The host will be Gayle Telfer Stevens, who is currently starring in River City. Gayle is also one of the hilarious Dolls duo who’ll perform too.

In September the Reporter told how Alexandria girl Harper Hyslop, aged five, was diagnosed with interstitial lung disease and her diagnosis prompted ‘Harper’s Helpers’ to be formed and start a campaign into funding research into the disease.

And they boosted the fundraising coffers by embarking on a sponsored walk up Ben Lomond, which helped raise more than £1,000.

In January last year, Harper was on top of the world when she made her TV debut in a new series of children’s programme The Teletubbies.

The show’s producers visited her nursery to stage auditions for the show and later got back in touch to invite Harper and her friends to a film shoot with the Teletubbies in Aviemore, where they were tasked with making a giant caterpillar out of snow.

In the weeks that followed, though, Harper’s illness took a hold and the family was later told about the rare form of lung disease. Now it is hoped that, with additional funding and further research into the disease, a possible cure can be found to help Harper and others in the future.

This week Harper’s mum Jodie gave the Reporter an update as to how her daughter is battling her condition.

Jodie said: “Harper is just about to get her last dose of steroid therapy and she will be getting further tests to see how this has impacted on her condition.”

Jodie, from Clydebank, also told how the events in Denny Theatre are not to be missed.

She said: “There are currently eight local dance schools participating in our event but this may increase to 10. Singer Station and two independent singers are participating and Gayle Telfer Stevens will be hosting the show.

“It is a showcase for local singing and dancing schools, designed to raise money for our two named charities that have assisted Harper though her journey. The showcase theme is hope, in line with Rare Disease Day on February 28.”

Jodie added: “All the schools coming together has shown a real community spirit from West Dunbartonshire.”

Tickets for Hope cost £8 from En Pointe, 117 Main Street, Alexandria and Saltire Stores, Lennox Street, Renton or call 07376 239 953. To find out more about Harper’s Helpers, go to their Facebook page.