Chiswick-based Cancer Survivor Postpones Charity Concert |
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Sacha Gomez forced to call off event due to health setback
October 24, 2025 A charity concert organised to raise awareness of the urgent need for stem cell donors has been postponed due to health reasons, shortly before it was due to take place. Sacha Gomez, a 24-year-old musical theatre performer from Chiswick, had planned the event — titled A Night for ACLT — to support the African Caribbean Leukaemia Trust (ACLT) and highlight the shortage of donors for patients of Black and mixed heritage backgrounds. The concert was scheduled for Sunday 2 November at the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre and was set to feature a lineup of West End performers. Sacha, whose own life was saved by a stem cell transplant following a diagnosis of acute myeloid leukaemia in 2024, said the decision to postpone was not taken lightly. “It wasn’t an easy decision at all,” she said. “But I feel I’m not able to make the concert what I want it to be or what it deserves to be. I want to thank everyone who has supported me through my illness and treatment and the performers and audience who were looking forward to the show.” She confirmed that the postponement is not due to a recurrence of the cancer. All ticket holders will receive full refunds. Her story has drawn attention to the stark disparities in donor availability. During her treatment, a suitable match was eventually found in Germany after delays and uncertainty in the UK registry. According to ACLT, patients from Black and mixed-race backgrounds face significantly lower chances of finding a match, with only 1% of UK blood donors identifying as Black. The concert was to feature performances from Billy Nevers (Hamilton), Claudia Kariuki (Six), Olivia Lallo (Mamma Mia!), and others. Sacha, who trained as a singer and actor and has appeared in national television adverts, remains committed to raising awareness and supporting ACLT’s mission. For updates on the rescheduled event or to learn more about becoming a donor, visit aclt.org
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