Southwater to be lit up to help Zac’s fight
Telford & Wrekin Council is showing its support for a young boy’s fight against leukemia by lighting Southwater One red this coming Sunday.
Zac Oliver has an extremely rare form of childhood leukemia called Near Haploid and his family are raising money so he can travel to the United States for specialist treatment.
The lighting of Southwater One will coincide with “ZacFest” which also takes place on Sunday in Telford Town Park’s QEII Fields In Trust Arena – the use of which has been given to the family for free by the council.
ZacFest will run from 10am-8pm and will feature lots of activities to help raise money including live entertainment, a funfair, craft stalls, food and drink and a huge “Baby Shark” sing along.
The campaign aims to raise £500,000 to send Zac and his family to Philadelphia so that Zac can have CAR-T therapy.
It has already received £300,000 in generous donations made by the general public to help get Zac the treatment he needs.
Annette Oliver, Zac’s grandmother, said: “I would like to thank everyone who has donated to the campaign so far for their amazing generosity.
“Telford & Wrekin Council has also been brilliant in its support, giving us the use of the park’s arena free of charge – without such a venue Zacfest would be very difficult to organise.
“The council has also kindly offered to light Southwater red which will take place on the evening of the event which supports our awareness campaign.
“We are thrilled that Zac is being honoured in this way, and we look forward to everyone meeting Zac for the amazing world record attempt of the most people singing Baby Shark in one location.
“The event starts at 10am and we have an amazing line up for you on two stages, plus a funfair, and loads of stalls to browse through.
“The grand finale is a performance by the hugely and highly acclaimed electronic string quarter Escala, who reached the finals of Britain's Got Talent.
“We are privileged to host a wonderful array of bands which we know will entertain you all day. Please come and support Zac in his quest for Car T, lifesaving treatment.”
Telford & Wrekin Council leader Councillor Shaun Davies said: “I think everyone has been touched by Zac’s plight so we were happy to help in any way we could.
“Allowing the family to use the arena free of charge and lighting up Southwater in Zac’s honour were things that were very much in our gift to offer to help their fundraising campaign.”
Anyone who wants to support the fundraising campaign should visit: www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/zac-oliver
People can also donate using mobile phones by texting ZACH75 £1 to 70070.
Tickets will be available on the gate and are £5 for adults, £2 for children under 12 and family tickets are £12.
