Stafford DJ in 12-hour gig for charity
A charitable DJ is taking to the decks for 12-hours straight to raise money for a Stafford hospice.
Rob Bairstow, also known as his DJ pseudonym Retro Grooves, is playing the best of funk, soul, disco and 80's classics in a marathon DJ set in aid of Katharine House Hospice.
The free ticket-less event, titled The Countdown, is taking place at Slater's bar on Gaolgate Street from 12pm to 12am on February 16 and will see Rob entertain locals on his digital DJ set up.
The event is a way for Rob to fundraise for the Stafford half-marathon, which he is running on March 17.
Rob's target for the DJ set is to raise £500 for the hospice.
The 49-year-old from Stafford said: "I'm doing the Stafford half-marathon this year so thought a better way of fundraising would be to use my DJ skills.
"There will also be a prize draw with vouchers and gym memberships on offer.
"The money that I get paid for the gig is also going into the pot, so I'll not make any money from it.
"Slater's and their manager Richard Foeto-Tompkinson are 100 per cent behind me, it's a really good venue.
"I have 500 tracks in total for the 12 hours, I'm not worried about the music as that's sorted, but I need to endure the 12 hours standing on my feet.
"I'll be dancing around too and the training for the half-marathon will help."
The total that Rob raises is also being combined with the money raised by Lisa Anthony, a 40-year-old from Stafford who is running the London Marathon with her sister-in-law Jo Baldwin, aged 39.
"I'm fortunate enough to not have needed the hospice for myself or family, but it is a local charity that supports the community, they rely 100 per cent on donations, they get no government funding.
"This is important as everyone knows someone who has needed them and they're known in Stafford.
"They like that people are willing to help them."
