A POPULAR dance festival will be held for its 41st year raising funds for a cause close the organisers hearts.

The Queen of the Solway festival will be held at Maryport Church of England school taking place from May, 25 to 28 with over 200 competitors and even more spectators.

The festival attracts competitors are local children from Workington, Maryport, Cockermouth, Whitehaven and also children travelling from the Northeast, Lancaster, Barrow, Millom.

The event now in its 41st year has always been held in Maryport and brings tourism in to the town and surrounding areas.

This year the festival will raise funds for the Walk for Lloyd campaign, a fund set up to raise funds for charity Meningitis Now, in memory of 18 year old Lloyd Sutton, who died late last year.

Following his death, a group of Lloyd's friends came together to try and raise awareness around meningitis, and funds for charity Meningitis Now, with the aim to walk all of the Wainwrights throughout 2024 in Lloyd’s memory.

Theresa Rodney, who organises the festival has this year decided to use the event to support the charity due to the close friendship between her and Lloyds family, started as her son Matthew Hall and Lloyd were friends since childhood.

Theresa said: “We have decided to raise funds for walk for Lloyd because Lloyd was a good friend of my son, but his family have also been family friends for a lot of years, including in the dance community.

“We want to raise as much awareness as possible especially in young people and provide support to families who have and continue to suffer at the hands of this awful disease.

After 41 years of festivals, Theresa hopes that the event will follow in its regular fashion of ensuring that there is a whole load of family fun and fantastic performances.

 She said: “We hope to have another year where the children have as much fun off and on stage with their friends and making new friends. The community benefits from the tourism and the local businesses get a boost.

“We also hope member of the community come along and enjoy watching the local and visiting talent.”

The dance festival have thanked Maryport Town Council for their support with the event and generous donations.