Fundraiser comes after cancer struck son of Underbelly boss

Edinburgh’s Underbelly venue is to stage a benefit for The Brain Tumour Charity after cancer struck the young son of its director, Ed Bartlam

Late last year, the boy, then four, was diagnosed as having a rare and aggressive form of brain cancer, which could not be treated in Britain. Luckily, he found a treatment in the US to which he responded well, and now is in remission.

Now the  venue Bartlam runs with business partner Charlie Wood,  is staging what it hopes will be the first Big Brain Benefit on August 23 – and has just announced the line-up.

John Bishop, Jason Byrne, Aisling Bea, Danny Bhoy, Tommy Tiernan, Abandoman, Charlie Baker  and Suzi Ruffell will all be taking part in the fundraiser, which will be at Underbelly George Square at 11.45pm.

Underbelly will match all ticket sales to double the amount donated to The Brain Tumour Charity, which is dedicated to beating what is the biggest cancer killer for children and adults under 40.

Tickets, priced £20, are available here. 

• Comedians Fred MacAulay,  Jason Byrne, Jimmy McGhie, John Robins and Hannah Gadsby are taking part in the annual golf tournament between comics and promoters held in Edinburgh.  

The Mackenzie Taylor Memorial Cup will be staged at Duddingston Golf Club on August 22 and also features Chris Martin, Jim Park, Christopher Forbes, Paul McCaffrey, Charlie Baker, Dominic Holland, Urzila Carlson, Carl Donnelly,  Andrew Ryan, Ed Patrick and promoters Mick Perrin, Richard Bucknall (who organises the event) and Ollie Wilson. 

 The tournament is named after the comedian Mackenzie Taylor who took his own life in 2010.

Published: 16 Aug 2017