Star date: 1st February 2015

SALFORD CHAMPION TROUPE TAKES FIVE TIN CHALLENGE

As the trophy winning Lower Kersal Morris Troupe was celebrating huge success at its annual Presentation Day last week, the event was combined with championing Salford's vulnerable and homeless people, with over two hundred tins of food and other items donated to Coffee4Craig as part of its Five Tin Challenge.

"We're going to keep this challenge and support Coffee4Craig as much as we can" says Joanne Gibson, the Troupe's trainer who has guided the girls to become Junior and Senior champions this year.

Full details here...

The Lower Kersal Morris Troupe had been fundraising for ages to get new dresses so that up to seventy girls who perform at contests could look their best. At the championships last November they not only looked top, they came top with the Juniors and Seniors winning titles, and groups in all the other categories getting placed.

At their Celebration Day last week, the Troupe turned their fundraising sights towards Coffee4Craig, the ace Salford aid organisation that helps the homeless and delivers food parcels to those at the sharp end of the ConDem Government's austerity (see previous Salford Star article - click here).

Over two hundred tins of food, plus other items including clothes and cosmetics were donated as the Troupe took Coffe4Craig's Five Tin Challenge (see here).

"One of our members, Sarah Kerr has been getting really involved in Coffee4Craig and she asked if we could get the girls to take the Challenge and we were happy to help out" says Joanne Gibson, the Troupe's main trainer "We're going to keep this challenge and support Coffee4Craig as much as we can. I know that two of our mums have already been to the centre to help out."

The Lower Kersal Morris Troupe is one of the most established community groups in Salford, consistently winning titles and trophies since 1983...

"In Lower Kersal and Whit lane I think every girl has been at our troupe" laughs Joanne "There's girls who started with us when they were two and are now in the their twenties and thirties, and their kids are now coming to us, so it's like a big family, it's lovely. We also have girls coming from Stretford and Wythenshawe, and two girls who have gone to university come back every Thursday night for training which shows their fantastic commitment."

The commitment has paid off with the Troupe winning medals and titles, and running six lines, or age groups, at competitions, with girls aged from four to 32. It not only feels like a family, it's also run by Joanne's family, with her mum, Ann Smith, as the Troupe's Principle Trainer...

"She's like a second mum to all the girls and she's always worked full time, while somehow finding the time to run the Troupe and wash and maintain seventy girls' dresses" says Joanne "It's been our lives but I'm just so proud of my girls, they're all amazing, and we do have the best supporters. Like I say, it's just one big family and if new people come in they are part of the family too."

The Lower Kersal Morris Troupe is currently recruiting girls aged between four and eight. They train at St Sebastian's Community Centre, Concorde Place on Wednesdays 6pm -7.15pm (subs £2)

Those age nine-18+ train on Thursdays 6pm-8.30pm at St George's Day Centre on Cromwell Road

For further details direct message Joanne Gibson via Facebook – click here