WORLD ZOMBIE DAY-ON-SEA

“Bite back” against homelessness with apocalyptic fundraiser, shuffling into Southend on 5 October 2019…

Inspired by the horror films of George A. Romero, World Zombie Day is a charity fundraising event that was incepted in 2006, created to help fight world hunger and homelessness. The first ever WZD event was staged in the iconic Pittsburgh shopping mall, setting of the 1978 zombie classic Dawn of the Dead.

Since then, the event has literally exploded into a global phenomenon. More than 50 cities play host to zombie parades in October every year. London (since 2008), Los Angeles, Hong Kong, Paris, and Tokyo are just some of the locales that see thousands of dresser-uppers gather on an annual basis, stumbling along on organised routes, and sporting grisly make-up and creepy costumes.

Despite its growing popularity, the zombie bug had never spread to South Essex…until now. Reaching out to the official WZD organisers for support, Leigh-on-Sea residents Vanessa Daly and Stephen Daultrey (of rock band Okuri Okami) decided to create the inaugural World Zombie Day-on-Sea, which will take place in Southend on 5 October 2019.

The duo’s aim is to raise money for Charlie Boy’s Angels, a local charity supporting homeless people with pets. Charlie Boy’s Angels were chosen for the occasion after winning a poll on the event’s official Facebook page, accruing an astonishing 1,409 votes in just four days.

Charlie Boy’s Angels is a small, Essex-based charity dedicated to helping homeless people and their pets. It provides care, treatment and support. It works closely with vets and has a fantastic reputation in the local area, with many wonderful case studies.

The charity’s story it began in 2015 when an online campaign was launched to help a beautiful, white staffie called Charlie Boy. Charlie Boy was living on the streets with his owner, and had developed a terrible skin complaint after being neutered.

In January 2017, tragedy struck when Charlie Boy lost his life trying to defend his owner in a horrific knife attack. Charlie Boy’s owner was stabbed but thankfully survived. However, Charlie Boy sadly did not. Instantly, the Charlie Boy’s Angels page was flooded with support in memory of this beautiful hero.

It was Charlie Boys’ owner’s wish that other animals suffering similar problems to Charlie Boy could be helped, mostly animals who were also living on the streets. And so Charlie Boy’s Angels was born.

Charlie Boy’s Angels help provide emergency vet treatment, neutering, flea treatment and worming, or even things pet owners take for granted, such as a collar, lead and food. Anything to help homeless people provide for their companions! Many are in volatile situations and we can't change the world, but we can give them the help they need.

Quite often their animals are the only thing homeless people have in the world. Many landlords refuse accommodation if you have pets which makes their situation tougher. Please don't walk past when you see someone in need, contact the Charlie Boy’s Angels page and they will do their very best to help. If we can make a difference to the harsh reality of street life then we have achieved something.

So please support Charlie Boy’s Angels and the amazing work they do.

There are two parts to World Zombie Day-on-Sea. The event will kick-off with a sponsored zombie shuffle through central Southend, in which participants of all ages are invited to dress up as zombies for a fun afternoon stroll.

This will be followed by a charity gig in the evening, at the seafront venue Chinnery’s. Four bands have been confirmed to play: local metal heavyweights Walk in Coma, London sci-fi rockers Death Ingloria (who mix animation with music), humorous death metallers Grave Existence, and Okuri Okami, an instrumental band revered for their atmospheric shows.