A CHARITY disco event planned by community champion Evonne Harwood is set to go ahead in memory of her.

Ms Harwood was organising an Oops Upside Your Head world record attempt before she died suddenly last month age 55.

While the event will no longer be a world record attempt, it is now set to go ahead in memory of Evonne and to pay tribute to her work in the town.

It will take place at around 3pm at St James’ Church on Saturday, June 3, and will coincide with the Accrington Food Festival.

It will also be to raise money for her favourite charity, East Lancashire Hospice.

George De Rosa, who was the instructor for the dance working with Evonne, has taken over the organisation of the event.

The 49-year-old said: “Since Evonne passed away we still wanted the event to go ahead but thought it would be more appropriate paying homage to her.

“She was a lady who championed every good cause in Accrington and Hyndburn and it will be great to pay tribute to her.

“She just oozed positivity and I was always impressed how she held these great events in the town, it was inspiring.

“I’m sure Evonne would have wanted as many people as possible to come down to get involved.”

Mr De Rosa was born and raised in Accrington and holds clubbercise classes in Hyndburn at the Hollins Technology College.

The dance involves people sitting in rows and swaying from side to side to the sound of the classic song by The Gap Band.

As many people as possible are wanted to come down to remember Ms Harwood and raise money for charity.

Guests are also being encouraged to dress for the occasion to carry out the 1980s dance and wear their brightest satin slacks, fluorescent leg warmers and ra-ra skirts.

As well as planning this event, Ms Harwood also ran the Pink Magpie Vintage Emporium in Warner Street and organised the Dickensian Christmas market and the ‘Oh We Do Like to Be Beside the Seaside’ event on the road.

Her partner Guy Curtis said: “I think it’s really great that people are going to carry on with the event.

“It was something Evonne was passionate about trying to organise and it’s already been going viral.

“I’ll be going along myself and her friends and family have all been wanting it to carry on in her memory.”