Help Alhambra Sunbeam to his American Dream

Hi, I'm Laura the very old mother of Fraser Campbell-McDonald. He is just 14 years old and at 13 after 16 auditions he left home to go to The Hammond a Performing Arts (P A) Boarding school in Sept 2021, which is one of the top 4 PA schools in the country. He's had a very tough school life so far, being bullied for being different, not into his sport , more into his singing and dance. He just didn't fit in and it's been so upsetting to watch - children can be so cruel! As a family we have had to be selfless and let our only child leave home, and move 80 miles away to Chester, to be with like minded children. He is so happy now and a different person. He was born with an amazing gift to sing - his current teachers say he is exceptional and is West End, Broadway material if he wants it, never have they heard a voice so mature come out of a child so young. He is the next Alfie Boe and Michael Ball. Fraser's only been at the school one term and already he has been selected as 1 of 15 children to go to French Woods Festival of Performing Arts in New York, USA https://frenchwoods.com for 3 weeks in June 2022 as part of the schools dedication to his progress, development and training. French Woods has provided world-class arts training to young people for over 50 years and is one of the leading residential training program in the US. It has been the training ground for some of the worlds most talented stars with notable alumni including, Jason Robert Brown, Andrea Burns , Natalie Weiss and many more. However, this comes at a price of £2000 that Fraser has to find.

We recognise this is a "once in a life time" opportunity for him, however, I have just retired after 38 years service and dad is a self employed driving instructor which during covid could only work for 4 months out of 13 which we are still recovering from. Currently, our priority is to just keep him at this wonderful school and find the fees each month, never mind to French Woods. So we've said " yes we authorise for him to go, but we don't have a money tree at the bottom of the garden, so Fraser if you really want it you will have to find the funds yourself". The school have suggested Fraser sets up a Go Fund Me page and fund raise. But he didn't want to do one as he says" Mum it is begging and I want to earn the money myself". So for starters he's cleared out a load of cupboards to sell things and he is giving up most of his Christmas holiday and gone and got himself a job at our local garden centre - Woodbank, Bingley - he started yesterday for 2 weeks. I am so proud of his work ethic. In order for him to secure a place he needs raise £500 by 10 Jan 2022 to pay for the flights, followed by 2 further instalments £500 in March and £1000 in May. ( He is not even thinking covid!)

His teacher - Miss Maddocks has said it will open up so many doors for him in the future - it is a life changing experience, he will network with directors from Broadway and have the chance to make a name for himself and develop so many life skills that will help him for the future and his career in the Performing Arts industry - which is such a hard and difficult profession - a profession where resilience is key - however, this is one skill Fraser has developed. He's already a professional, has an agent and we've lost count how many auditions he's had to do - at least 60. Starting at the age of 3 on Keighley Playhouse stage as Jimmy in the Railway Children, in his short life he's performed as a Bradford Alhambra sunbeam , Londons West End with Natalie Weiss, Nativity The Musical Uk Tour, William in Good Night Mister Tom and Represented Yorkshire as one of 4 children In The BBC Children in Need Choir 2020 and is part Of Opera North, plus numerous local events. He does an audition and says - "right onto the next one mum".

Although, he doesn't agree with go fund me (I am sure I will get into BIG trouble - he will be so so cross with me, when he finds out). I know other students who are doing this to get to French Woods and it would be so cruel if he was the only one who doesn't go. So I've swallowed my pride and taking Frasers advice - "onto the next one mum" . so I have and hopefully any help will so greatly be received. He plans to carry on working and if at the end of his Christmas holiday job, they like him (and I am sure they will when the hear him sing) they will have him back at his next school holidays and into the future. He feels he's helping the local village and environment working with plants- plus singing as he goes. Life without music - just doesn't exist for him - Music is life.

All that's left for me to say is a huge thank you and as Fraser says...

- Have yourself A Merry Little Christmas.