AUDIENCES at one of the North-East’s major theatres have dug deep to provide a shot-in-the-arm for a chosen charity.

Collections at Sunderland Empire shows raised £10,600 for the theatre’s dedicated cause for 2017, Red Sky Ball for CHUF.

Set up by Sergio Petrucci and his wife Emma to mark the care their daughter, Luna, received at the Children’s Heart Unit at Newcastle’s Freeman Hospital, one of only two specialist units in the UK which perform complex heart surgery on children.

Some of the collected money has already been used to fund a cardiogram machine for the neo-natal ward in Sunderland Royal.

Mr Petrucci said: “It has been great to see audiences and the venue supporting our cause in such a proactive manner.”

Red Sky Ball is looking for corporate partners, as they aim to break £200,000 this year. Interested companies can get in touch via info@redskyball.com, for more details.