STUDENTS at a Kidderminster guitar academy have been commended by Sir Bob Geldof for helping to raise funds for the Band Aid 30 Ebola campaign.

More than 80 pupils from Mike Smith Guitar Academy, aged between 6 and 67-years-old, took part in a special Christmas Show at Stourport Civic Centre.

The event, which was the culmination of months of hard work and dedication by students and tutors, also raised funds in aid of the Ebola campaign.

Mike Smith, academy owner, said: “Having watched the harrowing media footage of the Ebola crisis in West Africa, alongside the Band Aid track ‘Do They Know Its Christmas?’, I felt so passionately about the plight that I decided that I wanted my guitar academy to help in some way or another.”

Mike and his students decided to recreate the classic Band Aid track and performed it during the show. Within eight minutes of playing the song, £1,000 had been donated by the audience.

In a message sent to the academy by Sir Bob Geldof, on behalf of the Band Aid trustees, he said: “This is amazing! Absolutely mega!!

“Well done everyone and thank you so very much. What a great crowd of people you are. If everyone was as cool or thoughtful or kind as you guys we'd all be so much better off.

“It's a lot of money and I want you to know that the effect of your efforts will be that many, many children will now have the possibility of a life with greater expectation and dignity.

“You should be very proud of yourselves.

“Well done and thanks again. Bob x”

Mike said: “The event was a triumph and I was extremely proud of all the students and their performances, and all those that worked relentlessly behind the scenes.”

The academy is now planning to recreate the Live Aid event which will be held on July 11 – marking the 30th anniversary of the original Live Aid concert.

Once again, the group’s plan will be to raise funds, as well as awareness, for the Ebola crisis.

For more about the academy visit mikesmithguitaracademy.co.uk