Photos by Colleen Gauntlett. Left click to enlarge
On the 20th March the Choir opened its doors, free of charge to the public to raise awareness of prostate cancer in men. Prostate Cymru is the designated charity for the choir this year and it followed up its opening charity event, a table top sale in January, with an Open Evening.
Our occasional Open Evenings give us with an opportunity to present our music to the local public in an informal manner and shows how, by practice we achieve our incredible sound. With a bucket collection during each evening we have raised well over £1200 in the past year. Open evenings have also introduced at least three new members to our choir.
The Choir ran through many pieces of its programme to an audience of about 50 people under the guidance of Siân Hatton and Shirley Ann James, accompanied by Stephen Berry prior to its Annual Concert on April 12th at the Leisure Centre. Ranging from Welsh hymns to Queen to Les Misérables the audience were so delighted with our rehearsals that a total of about £150 was donated to our charity appeal.
Prostate Cymru was represented by Awareness Coordinator, Dai John who, as one who has suffered the effects of prostate cancer explicitly but clearly explained the importance of early diagnosis since there are no early symptoms. Caught soon enough, the cancer is curable in many cases and can lead to a much improved outcome compared to the onset of untreated later stages. About one in eight men in Wales will suffer the effects of prostate cancer which, if ignored becomes incurable. Chairman Mark Stocker bravely passed on to the audience the effects that contracting early stage prostate cancer at the age of 52 has had on his life. Opting for surgery, Mark is now extremely hopeful of a full recovery. We all wish him well.
The statistics bring home that in reality about ten members of our choir will suffer some form of this male cancer in their lives. So take the test, boys if you think there is a problem. Better a slight embarrassment than a painful death.
The choir and its Cycle Club is following up its fund raising efforts for Prostate Cymru with an endurance cycle ride around Redwick over eight hours on May 11th and a long distance ride over 3 days from Fishguard to Caldicot via Llanelli and Brecon from July 10th to the 12th. A similar event last year, but only over one day, raised over £5000 for local charity The Victims of Chernobyl Children’s Trust. The Choir’s Golf Society is also planning an open golf day in September, details to be announced. In October there will be a ‘Pub Quiz Night’ which proved extremely popular last year.
Our target is £10,000 and you can give through the web-site www.justgiving.com/caldicot-male-voice-choir or see any chorister.
During the evening, Mark read out a letter of appreciation from Anne Huxtable of the Teenage Cancer Trust for our St David’s Day Concert which raised £1061 for the charity and following the support for cancer charities a cheque for £1261 was presented by chorister Mervyn Roberts to Macmillan Cancer Support representative, Glenys Day on behalf of the Buffs. The choir assisted the Buffs by raising about £400 towards this amount by holding a concert at the choir hall last year (see next report).
We are thrilled that we are able to support these deserving charities who in their different ways are all dedicated to fighting the life destroying effects of cancer.
We were also surprised that we gained a new top tenor on the night, Nick Antell brother of John who recently joined us in the top tenors (see following post)
If you are trying to raise funds for your charity and you think we can help by us giving a concert, please contact us and we will do all we can to help. We do not charge for charitable events except for transport costs.