A TEN-YEAR-old girl who took to the stage at a music event to speak movingly about how dementia has affected her Nana has helped raise £11,000.

Annie Donaghy, a pupil at Lord Deramore's Primary School, prompted many in the 800-strong audience at A Night to Remember at York Theatre Royal to donate money to the York Dementia Cafe and the Alzheimer's Society.

Taking to the stage Annie told the crowd that her "Nana forgets so I remember". Reading a piece she had written herself, she said: "Dear Dementia, we didn’t invite you into our family but you’re here now. We could focus entirely on it but we’re going to focus on Nana instead."

The event - which featured York talent Beth McCarthy , Toby Burras, Graham Hodge, Heather Findlay, Jessica Morgan, Las Vegas Ken, Dan Lucas, Chris Helme and Chris Farrell - included attendees with Alzheimers from care homes in the area.

Ian Donaghy, Annie's dad and organiser of the event, said: "I can honestly say it was one of the most moving nights any of us have seen. We were all genuinely moved.

"It was a night I threw together with friends. Dos that make that much money tend to have posh, rich people there. We just had men in the street putting money into buckets. It filled all our hearts."

The hire of the theatre was paid for by York company Radar Healthcare ensuring the charities received an extra £2000. The house band of George Hall, Martin Ledger, Phil Hardy, Dave Hardy, Dave Clements, Mick Donnelly and Craig Rothery played together very successfully for the first time, Ian said.

Of the money raised, £1200 will go to York Dementia Café to fund it for a year and £9808.35 to the Alzheimer’s Society.