Shortly after being interviewed by the Salford Star back in 2007, Happy Mondays' bass player, Paul Ryder moved his family from Salford to America, where his two sons were doing really well.
One of his sons, Chico, was a bit of a football star and played for his local club until two years ago when he was diagnosed with Rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare soft tissue cancer. Chico underwent a year of horrendous intensive chemotherapy and radiation treatments (read the full story here) until being declared in remission in October last year.
Now, Chico's hair has grown back, he is beginning to eat, although he still needs to be fed through a tube occasionally, and he is working on being able to walk normally again. He is also on an intensive long term relapse prevention programme which has included the use of cannabis oil and is featured in an upcoming documentary by Ricki Lake and Abby Epstein called Weed the People (see here).
This Friday, 25th July, Paul's Happy Mondays band colleagues, including brother Shaun Ryder, are starring at the Chico's Kickin' Cancer Fundraising Ball at the Palace Hotel Ballroom as part of the latest efforts to raise much needed finance for Chico's treatment and for The Christie Hospital.
The Mondays will be performing a full set – their only home town show this year – while Hooky and Graeme Park are doing the sounds, poet Mike Garry is doing the words and the ace Stu Francis is comparing.
It's a full on black tie ball, party and concert, complete with VIP reception, sumptuous four course dinner and fine wines, and an auction of exclusive items.
Chico's Kickin Cancer Fundraising Dinner Ball
Friday 25th July
Palace Hotel, Oxford Road, Manchester
There's still Bronze (£75) and Silver (£100) tickets left for the event – click here
For more details see ChicosKickinCancer facebook group and the Chico's Kickin Cancer webpage - click here
UPDATE: Happy Mondays have announced that `due to unforeseen circumstances' this event has now been postponed until October.
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