A YOUNG cancer patient has organised a 15 hour live music event to raise money for charity.

Tom Ryan, 21, of Dorchester, found out he was suffering with a melanoma behind one of his eyes in February this year.

After recovering from operations and radiotherapy a couple of months ago, he decided to organise CLICFest to raise money for the children’s cancer charity CLIC Sargent.

He said: “While I was in hospital I didn’t have a lot to do and I read that ten kids get told they have cancer every day.

“When I was ill a lot of people were saying how I was so young to have gotten cancer, and it just made me think how scary it must be for the really young kids who get diagnosed and who don’t really understand what they’re going through.

“CLIC Sargent was one of the first charities to get in touch with me after I got diagnosed and I thought doing something like this would be an awesome way to give something back.”

The 15 hour event is taking place at Aura on the Esplanade and starts at 12pm on Saturday, August 2 until 3am with a total of 14 live music acts playing on the day, with Britain’s Got Talent’s Bailey McConnell headlining the show.

Aura manager, Chris Dredge has been helping to organise the event.

He said: “All of the bands are doing us a huge favour. They deserve a big thank you, they have been really great. They are all donating some of their fees to the charity.

“We were more than happy to help Tom out with this. We love live music and it’s for such a good cause.

The bar will also be selling special CLIC cocktails on the night with all proceeds going to the charity.

Advanced tickets cost £3 and can be purchased from Aura or they will be £4 on the night. Under 16s can attend for free if accompanied by full paying adults. Over 18s only after 11pm.

For tickets call Aura on 01305 771113 or call Tom on 07845 702978.