As Variety, the children’s charity prepares to celebrate its 70th year in 2019 we reflect on this year’s spectacular Legends of Industry Awards and look forward with the charity’s new CEO, Frances Lang.

The Legends of Industry Awards has become one of the region’s foremost events for business and for charity, offering a great evening for a great cause thanks to the dedicated team at Variety, the children’s charity and their supporters. The glittering 2018 event was no different, honouring those who have achieved outstanding success in their chosen fields and celebrating all that the charity stands for. 

Simon Merrett, Group Director of Cerberus Group, partnership sponsor to the Legends of Industry Awards sums up the event well. “For the past six years, we have been overwhelmed by all the wonderful recipients who are honoured and recognised by Variety, the children’s charity for the outstanding achievements in their chosen industries. 

“We have seen first hand all the great work Variety does here in the northwest helping so many sick disabled and disadvantaged children to have a much brighter future, and we will continue to support in any way we can in the future.” 

Alongside the celebrated award winners, the true star of the show this year, was Variety Young Ambassador, Dante Marvin, abright talkative and very funny 10 year boy with Musculoskeletal Osteogenesis Imperfecta and scoliosis. Dante took to the stage to demonstrate his break-dancing skills much to the delight of the guests, and encapsulates everything that the charity is looking to achieve - provide the support for sick, disabled and disadvantaged young people in order that they can realise their full potential and lead happy and full lives.

This is something Variety’s new Chief Executive, Frances Lang, is passionate about, “I have only been in this role for ten weeks now but Legends is a celebration of the charity and the young people we help. Dante is a shining example of what we can achieve through the help of all our supporters.

“I have been in the charity sector for four years now but I have always had a passion for helping young people and their families and this is what attracted me to Variety, the children’s charity. The charity is never short of people to help but it is about helping sick, disabled and disadvantaged children along with their parents and siblings - the effects on which are often forgotten about.

“This element of the charity’s work - supporting the whole family - really means a lot to me. I have a stepson who has profound special needs and has experienced first hand the challenges to ensure that he got what he needed. But we didn’t have anywhere near the number of challenges the families who come to Variety also have to endure.

“Variety delivers this support through practical, tangible and immediate help from special projects, like transforming facilities at a special needs school to enrich the pupils’ lives to providing sports wheelchairs so that young people can realise their full potential and dreams. The transformations from often simple things are utterly breathtaking. It is all about making our world accessible, that is my passion and I am looking forward to supporting the amazing team we have here at Northwest to touch more lives in the coming year.”

Do not miss out on one of the north west’s premier professional and charitable events. 

The 2019 Legends of Industry Awards night on Thursday 3 October 2019 is set to be even bigger and better as Variety, the children’s charity celebrates its 70th birthday.

w: variety.org.uk

How to Support Variety, The Children’s Charity

From volunteering on a committee to offering pro-bono services to buying a ticket to one of the fabulous events, like the 2019 Legends of Industry Awards, you can support Variety in a number of ways. 

To find out more contact 

t: 0161 989 1274 | e: lyn.staunton@variety.org.uk