Left to right, Kim Legge, Brenda Yourth, Lori Ashton and Kim Gardner placed second in the evening’s competition, performing Kiss May 28 at Lakeshore Recreation.

Hub Staff

Lakeshore Recreation in Port Elgin played host to Saugeen Shores’ first ever Lip Sync Battle on Saturday, May 28. All proceeds went to Caitlyn Cobean Community Crusaders in support of Tara Boom Houston Children’s Foundation (TBHCF).

With the help of Joseph Flarity from Joseph J. Entertainment, twelve teams took to the stage and performed their hearts out for a good cause.

Brian Longmire, Master of Ceremonies for the evening, introduced the panel of judges, Trevor Wardrop, Sue Buckton and Scott Rowland, who had a tough job but with the help of sign cards with words such as, “Wow”, “Love”, “You Rock”, as well as numbered score cards, were able to express their enthusiasm for the performers to the near capacity crowd.

Rona Cobean took to the stage before the performances got underway and after thanking everyone for coming and to Lakeshore Recreation for “this brilliant idea for the Lip Sync Battle and asking us to come on board,” gave a reminder of just what everyone’s contributions and support went to help.

Caitlyn Cobean passed away in 2008 from brain cancer at the age of 15 and the Community Crusaders was formed. “When the Tara Boom Houston Children’s Foundation (TBHCF) came to the table... it was unanimously decided (by the Crusaders committee) that this was the Foundation that we wanted to support and be part of,” said Cobean.

The TBHCF was formed in 2003 by the parents of Tara Houston, a young girl who also lost her life to brain cancer and the Foundation “was established to help improve the lives of families whose children have been diagnosed with any life threatening illness,” said Cobean. “Their goal is to eliminate some of the financial burdens that may prevent or impede access to treatment or detract from the quality of life for those children and their families.”

Cobean explained that although TBHCF helps families all across southwestern Ontario, the Crusaders, who joined TBHCF in January, put their focus specifically in Grey and Bruce counties.

“So in fact we’ve been able to help our very first family just this week,” said Cobean. “Being able to tell that family who are dealing with a child with a heart condition that all their unpaid and overdue bills that have been building up while he was having multiple surgeries, will now be paid off,” Cobean paused for the cheers and applause that came from the audience. “So they don’t need to worry anymore and we could see the weight that was just lifted off their shoulders... it was absolutely amazing to be a part of.”

Greg Nicholson, who has been in music all his life and was there to perform Engelbert Humperdinck, said that it was a challenge to perform without actually vocalizing. "The way that I think I can make it feel or look real is to actually sing it but not sing it loud," said Nicholson. 

All told Saturday’s event raised $4,600.

After a difficult decision by the judges, first place went to Karen Fehr and Colin Morano’s performance of Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers. Second went to Kiss, performed by Kim Legge, Kim Gardner, Brenda Yourth and Lori Ashton, while third went to OMI, by Dave Sousa and Warren Dunlop.

Playing out the Dixie Chicks’ Earl Had to Die video were Cham-bettes, left to right, Karen Patterson, Sahar Hassanien (getting the next scene ready “behind the curtain), Darlene Welsh, Jan Holmes, and Dixie Chicks Cherie Duhaime, Christine Champion and Martha Bennett. Gay Ashdowne, who played a second Sheriff, is also behind the curtain.

Left to right, Kristen Pellow, Kara Marklevitz and Jordaine Leeder performed Beyonce’s Single Ladies at the Lip Sync Battle May 28 at Lakeshore Recreation in Port Elgin.

Angela Belair was All About That Bass on May 28 at Lakeshore Recreation’s Lip Sync Battle.

On the left, having come from Graceland a month prior with his “roadie” sister, Kate MacArthur, Lachlan MacArthur performed Elvis’ Burning Love. On the right, Greg Nicholson performed Engelbert Humperdinck, much to the pleasure of the ladies, and at least one gentleman in the audience.