Jessie J thanks Jeanette and Katie 
Jeanette with Tinie Tempah
Lecturers raise money for charity by providing Radio 1 Big Weekend acts and DJ's with relaxing massages
Stressed out stars at the Radio 1 Big Weekend in Carlisle were able to relax backstage, with the help of massages from two University of Cumbria sports therapy lecturers.
Katie Small and Jeanette Knowles rubbed the shoulders of some of the countries biggest names in music and DJ-ing, in return for donations to the Active Foundation children’s charity.
More than £350 was raised after generous celebrities including Tinie Tempah, My Chemical Romance, Jessie J, Plan B, Ellie Goulding, Fearne Cotton, Scott Mills and Edith Bowman made donations before they headed on stage to entertain the crowds.
Katie, Senior Lecturer and Course Leader in Sports Therapy spent both Saturday and Sunday backstage and said of the fundraiser: “It was a fantastic opportunity to raise money for such a worthy charity while at the same time, meeting some big, and often very down to earth, celebrities.
“We provided relaxation massages backstage or in some cases in the artists own dressing room. This allowed us an insight in to what the different artists requested in their dressing rooms. One artists’ room was filled with boxes of Hunter wellingtons, Gucci sunglasses and dozens of bags of popcorn!! But I couldn’t possibly say who!
“It was a very long and tiring two days, but we thoroughly enjoyed it and received great feedback from the celebrities. They were very kind in helping to support the Active Foundation charity.
“My own highlight was having a very surreal chat with Foo Fighter’s front man Dave Grohl about the weather in Carlisle!”
Active Foundation is a unique charity which raises money by providing skilled massage therapists backstage at high profile events.
The foundation uses donations to provide educational and sporting opportunities for those with special needs and provides grants to aid children, the disadvantaged and people with disabilities.
This is the second year that Active Foundation has used this interesting way of raising money, also providing massages at the Bangor Big Weekend in 2010.
Posted on Friday 20 May 2011