Around 1,000 people went to Elton Vale Sports Club at the weekend to enjoy fantastic live entertainment at the same time as raising vital funds for charity.

The Steve Ferringo Band toured the UK and Ireland for more than 30 years, the same amount of time Steve Rogers, 60, of Walshaw Park, Bury, had been with his wife Ange.

Ange died in April 2015 after suffering with cancer. Within a month, Steve was diagnosed with cancer but received successful treatment in good time.

Having experienced the tireless work of the doctors and nurses involved, Steve felt it was only right to host a fundraiser to provide much needed funds for two charities.

And after the success of the first festival, Steve hosted his fifth fundraiser, Ferringo Fest 2023, on Sunday May 28, raising vital funds for Macmillan Cancer Support and North Care Charity.

Bury Times: Ferringo Fest 2023Ferringo Fest 2023 (Image: Danny Crompton)

A day of fun, music, drink, and food was enjoyed by all who attended.

Musicians who performed on the day included Leah B, White Skies, Big Lix Bowie.

Steve said: “This is the fifth event that we have done now, we had to take a break from it due to Covid-19, but the event has always been a Bury and Tottington event.

“The event first started because I lost my wife to cancer and more or less straight away, I had to go into hospital myself with cancer and I have been treated ever since.

“So, it was just supposed to be a gig to say thank you to the people who looked after my wife and to raise money for Macmillan and another local charity who looked after her.

“But because I had to go into hospital, we had to cancel the gig but then we decided that when I was feeling better, we will do it again.

“So, we then decided we could get a few bands together and make it into a festival.

“And it just grew from there, people ask me all the time when it’s coming back again.

“It’s a Sunday funday the day before the May Bank Holiday.”

Steve said he feels "blessed" that so many people wanted to come together to raise funds and have a good time.

Bury Times: Ferringo Fest 2023Ferringo Fest 2023 (Image: Danny Crompton)

He said: “The generosity of people has been absolutely incredible, there was 1,000 people there at the weekend and we are hoping to have even more next year, we just need to contact the council for the appropriate measures.

“I think we could have had another 1,000 people there were that many enquiries.

“I’m not sure how much was raised at the weekend yet but so far since we started the annual festivals, we have raised more than £60,000 for the two charities: Macmillan Cancer Support and Northcare Charity.

“So hopefully moving forward I hope we have raised at least another £10,000 or if not more.

“The weekend was definitely a success, I have had people message me on Facebook since the weekend saying well done and I hope you are having it every year.

“I feel blessed and so grateful for the amount of people who come and enjoy themselves.”

And although the event has been a roaring success each year, Steve said he could not have done it on his own.

Steve added: “It’s also not just me there are a team of us, there’s Rick Warburton who covers health and safety and Martin Duffy which without him the event wouldn’t be able to happen in the first place.

“And the people who help out with the collecting and volunteering are a great help too.”

For more information about the event, go to https://ferringofest.co.uk/index.html