THERE were screams of excitement and plenty of girlish giggles as X Factor star and former member of boyband The Risk, Charlie Healy, arrived at St Augustine’s High School last week.
The popstar treated students to a musical afternoon where he performed two sessions and helped to hand over the proceeds of the Redditch school’s Fundraising Day to charity, Bethany’s Wish (Wilms’ Tumour charity).
“Angela asked me a few years ago if I wanted to be a part of the charity and the relationship blossomed from there,” Charlie said.
“I do everything I can to help out on social media and stage performances.”
The popstar is now a patron of the charity which was launched by Alberto and Angela Polanco after losing their daughter, Bethany, following her fight to Wilms tumour — a rare childhood cancer of the kidney.
Speaking before the concert, Angela said how grateful she was to St Augustine’s staff and pupils, who raised £500 from their day of fundraising, and to Charlie for his work with Bethany’s Wish.
The performance was arranged to coincide with the school’s St Augustine’s Day, which marks the culmination of five years of study for its Year 13 students.
Following an appearance last year by fellow pop sensation Pixie Lott, Charlie received complete audience participation with pupils singing, clapping and dancing along.
“There won’t be a lot of slow ballads,” Charlie promised before he took to the stage. “Especially at this age, audiences want to be entertained.”
Since splitting with The Risk last year, Charlie is carving out a solo career and his debut single, Playground, is set for release at the end of the year.
