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Press release posted 6 June 2025
Designers, artists, students and makers from across the North West are being called on to get creative – all in the name of cancer support – as The Yard Manchester launches Hats Off! a one-of-a-kind fundraising competition for The Christie Charity.
In collaboration with The Yard Atelier CIC and acclaimed bag designer Edward De Lacy, the challenge invites people to design and construct a wild, unique bucket hat using a specially created pattern from Edward himself. All entries will be showcased at The Yard Manchester on Friday 11 July 2025, with proceeds raised from the event supporting local creative development through The Yard Atelier CIC as well as The Christie Charity, supporting the work of the world leading cancer centre, The Christie.
Mark Hamburger, co-founder of The Yard, said: "The Christie means a huge amount to us personally. I lost my dad, Cyril, to cancer, and The Christie gave us incredible care. We raised over £125,000 in 2005 in his memory, and we’re determined to go even further this time.
“The cause feels close to home once again because Sam Birchall, the guitarist in The Lilacs - one of our regular bands in The Yard - is being treated for testicular cancer.”
The Lilacs were formed in Wigan in 2019 and have built up a big following in Greater Manchester and beyond - selling out The Ritz last November.
“I was diagnosed in late February and had surgery almost immediately,” says 24-year-old Sam. “Unfortunately, the timing couldn’t have been worse - it was just a week before our band, The Lilacs, were due to go on tour, so we had to put everything on hold.
“At first, the consultants feared the cancer had spread, but thankfully I’ve since been given the ‘all clear’. I’ll still be monitored every 6 weeks at The Christie.
“I co-founded The Lilacs with our singer, Ollie Anglesea. We named the band after the Lilac Centre in St Helens, where my mum, Annette, was treated before she passed away from cancer in 2018. I really hope we can continue raising money for both The Christie and the Lilac Centre in her memory.”
The Hats Off! fundraising project is part of a wider campaign running throughout July, coinciding with the highly anticipated Oasis gigs. The Yard is the closest venue to Heaton Park where the Oasis reunion gigs will be taking place, so it seemed fitting to host a covered outdoor mini music festival, ‘Stranger Ways’, as a potential stop off for music fans on the way to Heaton Park over the weekend of Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 July.
Stranger Ways will feature local musicians and bands including The Lilacs, Alex Spencer, Dirty Blonde, Florentenes, Aziz Ibrahim, Lily Rae Grant and Strawberry Lemonade. Plus, there is an auction planned featuring exclusive music memorabilia, and opportunities for the public to donate or get involved creatively.
Sam from The Lilacs added, “It makes it even more meaningful and special for me to be involved in this gig to help raise money and awareness for such a fantastic cause through doing something we all love, having recently been diagnosed with cancer and seeing for myself the amazing work The Christie hospital does every day.
“Although we’re the ones on the stage often getting the praise, it really should be all the staff and people at The Christie doing fantastic work every day that get the plaudits because they really are everyday heroes!”
The Hats Off! submissions must be physically crafted and delivered to The Yard by 11am on Monday 30 June 2025. The hats will be auctioned off after being exhibited during a daytime showcase on 11 July 2025, followed by a DJ-led party in the evening.
Edward De Lacy, who designed the official bucket hat template, said: "This is a brilliant blend of fashion, music and fundraising and it’s a chance for anyone, whether you’re a professional designer or just someone with a love for making, to be part of something special."
Every Hats Off! entry will be linked to an individual fundraising page, with the creator who raises the most money receiving a very special prize of two AO Arena gig tickets, a one-night stay at City Suites, four tickets to a future Yard MCR gig, a £100 bar tab at The Yard and a limited-edition coloured Oasis vinyl worth £200. The winner will be announced on Thursday 31 July 2025, via The Yard MCR social channels.
All Hats Off! participants will be entered into a raffle to win prizes that include tickets to see Oasis at Wembley on Saturday 27 September with free accommodation, limited edition Oasis vinyl (worth up to £250), bar vouchers worth up to £150, and more surprises to be revealed.
You can enter the Hats Off! Competition on JustGiving now.
The Yard is a space to work, meet and relax. It is also a space for live music, film, theatre, spoken word, fashion and touring production rehearsals. It’s located at The Yard, 11 Bent Street, Cheetham Hill, Manchester, M8 8NF.
To support the work of The Christie Charity, please go to Donate today or ring 0161 446 3988.
The Christie Charity supports the work of The Christie NHS Foundation Trust providing enhanced services over and above what the NHS is able to fund. This includes money for care and treatment, research, education, and extra patient services. Gifts from the public make a huge difference to the care and treatment that The Christie is able to provide to patients and their families.