Lip Sync Battle at Camp and Furnace set to raise thousands for homeless charity Shelter

The countdown is on with just hours to go to this year’s Merseyside Lip Sync Battle at Camp and Furnace.

And you can look forward to Taylor Swift’s Shake It Off, Umbrella by Rihanna, and more, when nine people take to the stage at the Baltic venue tomorrow for the event which is set to raise thousands for homeless charity Shelter.

Organiser Pauline Cox, who’s regional community fundraiser for Shelter Merseyside, says: “I popped down yesterday for the rehearsals and it’s going to be brilliant.

“The choreographer at The Hammond performing arts college in Chester has choreographed routines for all the contestants and former and present students are backing dancers for them.

“It makes each performance look so polished.”

And she adds: “Each of the contestants have been fundraising and selling tickets and it’s going to be another great event.”

The Guide’s Jay Hynd will be presenting the challenge with eight acts – seven solo and one duo – set to lip sync to some of your favourite top tunes.

You might even recognise some familiar faces will The Guide’s Abiee Lundberg and Josh McDowell among those taking part: “We’ve decided to put ourselves out there and we’re more than willing to embarrass ourselves with our (Abiee’s) awful dancing,” grins Josh, “and have a blast while raising funds for Shelter, a charity with a truly important cause.

“We would deeply appreciate any support, so please come down to the show if you’re free to witness a little unexpected twist – we need all the help we can get! It’s going to be one of those ‘summer nights’ (hint hint).”

The Lip Sync Battle first took place in 2017 when Pauline says she was trying to think of a more fun and original way of boosting funds.

“I was looking for something a little bit different from the usual charity events and I was a fan of the US TV show, Lip Sync Battle, so I thought I’d try to do that.

“It’s different, it’s fun, and it takes nerve for people to get up on stage, but there’s real sense of achievement afterwards. It’s brilliant.

“This year’s contestants have been working really hard, raising money, learning their routines – and how to mime. It’s not as easy as you think!

“And what’s lovely is that they make friends along the way because they’re going through this journey – this trauma – all together,” Pauline smiles.

After each competitor has performed their routine, the audience votes via text donation to add to the money raised from sponsorship and ticket sales to create a winner.

All funds raised from this year’s Lip Sync Battle will help Shelter’s frontline services to continue providing free and expert help to anyone facing homelessness in Merseyside and beyond.

Latest figures reveal there are now 6,900 homeless families in temporary accommodation across the North West , with 7,530 children among them.

And that is just the tip of the iceberg.

With just £15 paying for a person to speak to one of Shelter’s experts and get help and advice that could turn their life around, the money raised from the Merseyside Lip Sync Battle can make a huge difference.

Pauline adds: “Lip Sync Battle is a fantastic and fun event. It’s a great way to spend an evening, an amazing experience for everyone who takes part, and by coming the community will be helping Shelter to be there for people whose lives are on the line.”