A few weeks ago we had an unusual request, which last Thursday 27th March we were able to satisfy, and that was to sing along with Chepstow Parkinson’s Society Support Group.
Two of their number, Alison Underwood and Jenni McCabe, both of whom have lived with Parkinson’s disease for many years had penned the above words (left click to read) to be sung to the tune familiarised by ‘Men of Harlech’. The message of the song is to ask others to have a little patience and help sufferers of this severely debilitating disease to take control. Every April a week is designated as Parkinson’s Week and Parkinson’s Wales has asked each local support group to form into a choir and sing the words written to the tune of Men of Harlech
Organised by Steve Lewis from the Support Group, about thirty Society supporters dressed in blue polo shirts formed up in front of the massed choir, resplendent in their complementary burgundy (very fetching lads) and conducted by our Musical Director, Siân Hatton, burst into splendid unison to the familiar tune of Men of Harlech. All this was recorded on an i-pad, presumably for You-tube or web site use.
Several of the Society stayed on at our practice to hear us for the rest of the evening and a raffle was organised which raised £110. Cheers, lads. Our donation bucket for our designated charity Prostate Cymru, was also richer by £13 on the night.
Parkinson’s Society Support Group co-ordinator Ann Hughes later sent a thank you card with the sentiments that they had a thoroughly enjoyable evening with us and that without our splendid support their promotion of the society in this way would not have been possible. She hoped their singing didn’t put us off and she hopes that we can work together on other projects or events.