An upcoming concert hopes to help send a little girl to Disney World.

On Sun., Feb. 3, the first annual Urban Rhapsody Charity Concert will take place at the West End Cultural Centre in support of the Children’s Wish Foundation.

"They instill so much hope in families going through dark times," said Jackie Doming, the 22-year-old Red River College student organizing the event.

Doming has spent the last year slowly raising the $10,000 needed to send four-and-a-half-year-old Briana Calley and her family to Orlando, Fla., to soak up some sun among Disney princesses.

Briana was born with transposition of the great arteries, a rare heart defect that required her to undergo open heart surgery when she was just 10 days old.

Though Briana’s healthy and happy today — she plays soccer and wants to play hockey like her dad — Briana’s future is still very much in the air, mother Sandra Calley said. The oldest living person to have undergone a similar corrective surgery is between 20 and 25, and doctors don’t know what happens much beyond that, Calley said. Briana might require future medications or surgery, and those complications are unknown.

"I think it’s awesome that they’re giving us a wish. (She’s) been through so much, and this is something to look forward to. It’s all she talks about now," Calley said, noting the North Kildonan family will be taking the trip next January when Briana is a bit older.

"It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and I want her to remember everything."

Doming chose Children’s Wish because both her parents had siblings die at an early age from life-threatening illnesses while growing up in the Philippines.

But Doming also has a rich history of volunteering in the community — from the Health Sciences Centre and Klinic to Winnipeg Harvest and the Teddy Bear’s Picnic.

Growing up in the West End, Doming was immersed in urban hip hop culture and always wanted to start her own clothing line, and raise money for charity on her own terms.

Over the last year, Doming has launched her own clothing line, Threads of Hope, and has raised about $3,000 selling T-Shirts, sweaters, and handmade leather bracelets.

"I thought why not put those elements together, urban clothing and urban music, and raise money for a good cause," she said.

Hosted by Ace Burpee, the concert is a who’s who of Winnipeg’s hip hop community — performers include local award-winning R&B queen Flo, Charlie Fettah & Jon-C of Winnipeg’s Most, and hip hop duo The Happy Unfortunate.

Doming hopes to turn the concert into an annual event.

"That’s the ultimate goal," she said.

"Once the event has been established in the community, I think a lot of people will enjoy it. And it gives artists an opportunity to put themselves in front of audience that associates them with a good cause."

The Urban Rhapsody Charity Concert takes place Sun., Feb. 3 at the WECC at 586 Ellice Ave.
Doors open at 6:15 p.m., show begins at 7. Tickets are $20 in advance at the WECC, Urban Bakery, or the Mercantile at Red River College in the Exchange District. Tickets are $25 at the door.

For more, visit www.tohclothing.com.

matt.preprost@canstarnews.com

Twitter: @metroWPG