Liverpool Echo - How Fame Raised Money for Charity

I told you a story last November about a Detective Inspector with Merseyside Police and her fascination with the cast of Fame.
Sue Hinds has now become a friend and she made her dream come true with an added bonus - she raised money for claire house - in fact £27,830.68 plus the bucket collection because of the Fame UK reunion.

When I first heard her story I couldn’t believe how her love for Fame would finish up raising money for charity.
Let me touch on the story.
This piece of TV history was first aired in the UK on June 17, 1982.
Sue was just going into high school and she fell in love with the characters, energy and concept of the programme. All about a performing arts school in America.

Pete Price with Valerie from Fame

She could totally identify with one of the characters, Doris Schwartz and she was convinced that one day they would become friends, which they are.
Sue was telling me that her parents own a chip shop in Seaforth. Her job as a teenager was preparing the ECHO for wrapping the chips.
She would read the articles on Valerie Landsburg (Doris) who she was determined to become friends with.

She started writing letters, one day she got a reply and was over the moon.
They would write back and forth every so often, which built the foundation for a friendship.
They met in 2000 after 11 years of correspondence.
She told be she had fulfilled one of her dreams.
2015, seven members of the cast reformed for a charity concert in Italy, Valerie was one of them.

Sue went over and enjoyed meeting the rest of the cast.
She told me “I knew then I had to bring them to England. It was my mission to make it happen.”

They liked the idea - if I could find the right charity.
As well as working she is a carer for her mum, who suffers with Parkinsons and Dementia.
She went on to tell me that the only thing worse than caring for a sick parent would be caring for a sick child.

She looked around and found Claire House, the children’s hospice.

Pete Price with one of the stars of Fame

She knew straight away that’s where the money would go.
In 2017 she went to Los Angeles and pitched the idea.
She has never done anything like this in her life but the cast trusted her. After a lot of hard work, the plan came together.

The theatre was booked (she actually used her own money that she’d saved to renovate her house - saying that could be put on hold).
Sue said “I talked to the real fans and created a team of volunteers - they became Fame UK.
“I spoke to LIPA and LMA, they both agreed to get involved.
“I brought onboard some sponsors and everything was set.”

Pete with Claire House

Sue sold out her two shows and made it a complete reunion weekend.
After clearing all of the show’s expenses, they had made an impressive £29,191.23.
Sue Hinds couldn’t thank people enough.
One wonderful thing that also happened, a gentleman who wanted to remain anonymous, bought the Fame Gold Disc, for a lot of money, and then gifted it to Claire House where it now hangs on the wall.

The day before the show, the Fame cast visited Claire House, and didn’t want to leave, they couldn’t believe the love in this amazing place. This is why I am so proud to be a patron.

Congratulations Sue Hinds, on making your dream come true and putting together such a wonderful event for a wonderful cause.
PS. Don’t forget to watch me on Sunrise, Sky’s breakfast show, this Saturday reviewing the papers. (I’ll be the one in the branded Echo jacket)