TICKETS are available for a ’Grand Musical Extravaganza’ in Bere Ferrers this Friday (March 4) to help those fleeing war and persecution.

A group of concerned individuals from the Bere Peninsula have joined forces to form ’Humanitarian Crisis Concern’ to contribute where they can to the current refugee crisis and will be holding the event in a bid to raise money to assist the work of Doctors of the World.

The concert will be held at St Andrew’s Church in Bere Ferrers — the Bere Alston Junior Drummers will amaze audiences with their clever synchronised rhythms, the Crow Puppets, who have performed extensively throughout England, will bring their own unique style of homespun folk and the popular Gypsy Train knetzmer band will play clarinet, saxophone, double-bass, guitar, fiddle and accordion to intoxicate the audience with fast, foot tapping arrangements of Balkan dance tunes, soulful improvisation and gypsy passion.

Thanks to the generosity of Bere peninsula residents, Humanitarian Crisis Concern was able to send £2,400 in early January to Doctors of the World — a charity that is part of the global ’Medecins du Monde’ and operates in more than 70 countries supporting the life-saving efforts of more than 300 programmes, providing vital health care to vulnerable populations in crisis.

A spokesperson for Humanitarian Crisis Concern said: ’The heart-wrenching image of the small, dead refugee boy being carried from a Greek beach shocked the world into the realisation that a massive humanitarian crisis was taking place. Many people have responded to this tragedy by donating time and resources to help those fleeing from war and persecution. Some of these people live on the Bere peninsula.

’Humanitarian Crisis Concern is a group of concerned individuals who wanted to contribute. Initially, we donated surplus funds from our stall in our community shop to local aid workers in direct contact with families stranded in the Calais camp. When a larger group was formed to make a more serious response, we then contact Doctors of the World. Mobile medics volunteer to deliver essential medical help to refugees and migrants in and around Calais, mainland Europe, the Balkans, Greece, Macedonia, the Middle East and the UK.’

Mindful of the plight of refugees struggling to survive a harsh winter in the Balkans with little in the way of food, water, clothing or sanitation, Humanitarian Crisis Concern decided to raise funds for Doctors of the World to assist in its work in mainland Europe. The group’s initial target was £1,820 to pay for a medical marquee, but it exceeded this target so was able to send the £2,400 to the charity in January.

For more information or to book tickets, contact Margaret Willmott on 01822 840380 or Bere Alston Pharmacy on 01822 830234.