Last updated at 10:25, Friday, 25 September 2009

Carlisle’s answer to Elvis Presley was so touched by the bravery of five-year-old Olivia Story he pledged to hold a charity night in her honour every year until she reaches the age of 18.

From left, Dave O'Roarty, Kieran O'Roarty, Taigh O'Roarty, Olivia Story, Kim Brown, Zoe and Niamh O'Roarty and Stephen Vevers

Back in August Stevie Vevers, who goes by the stage name Stevie Las Vegas, volunteered to perform at a concert to help raise money for her fund.

Together with friend Dave O’Roarty, who completed a 186-mile Coast to Coast cycle ride, they raised a grand total of £7,500 for the youngster, who lost both legs and one arm to meningitis three years ago.

Having seen how well Olivia has adapted to life on prosthetic legs, the two men were inspired to launch their fundraising campaign – the proceeds of which will help pay for the limbs she needs in later life.

And Stevie, whose seven-year-old son Declan attends the same school as Olivia, has now gone one step further by offering his fundraising services every year until she becomes an adult.

The 43-year-old singer first got involved after reading about Dave’s cycle challenge.

The pair used to work together at Pirelli, so Stevie got back in touch to see if he could help out with fundraising.

“Having seen Olivia I knew how important the money was for.

“I just thought they may be able to use my profile to help, so I said that if he did the cycle, I’d do the concert,” he explained.

With the help of Dave’s wife Zoe and her friend Louise Wannop, who helped organise the event and collected numerous raffle and auction prizes, the concert went ahead at Denton Holme Working Men’s Conservative Club in Carlisle which gave the room for free.

The event was a huge success – about 200 people attended and gave generously on the night, spurred on by the top prizes donated by local businesses.

Not long before the concert Dave completed his gruelling cycle challenge, despite tough conditions.

“The Friday was freezing and it just didn’t stop raining.

“To be honest if it wasn’t for Olivia’s charity spurring me on I’d have probably stopped at Brampton,” he said.

Pirelli shift manager Dave, who is a friend of Olivia’s parents, Mike and Kim Story, did the ride with colleagues Ralph Elliot and Darren Irving, who were raising money for their own causes.

His sponsorship, combined with the money raised at the charity night totalled £7,500 – exceeding all expectations.

The money will be set aside to buy Olivia, of Lazonby Terrace, specialist limbs as she gets older and becomes more self-conscious.

Without this money she will have to rely on those available on the NHS, which do not include realistic skin or bionic limbs.

Stevie and Dave now plan to set up an official committee to steer forward more fundraising events.

They hope that next time they can secure an even bigger venue so more people can attend.

To date, nine people have also signed up to take part in this year’s Great Cumbria Run in aid of Olivia after hearing about Dave’s cycle ride.

First published at 05:17, Friday, 25 September 2009
Published by http://www.cumberlandnews.co.uk