On the 20th March the Choir opened its doors, free of charge to the public to raise awareness of prostate cancer in men. Hoping to raise £10,000, 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 in the past year.
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 Caldicot Leisure Centre. Ranging from traditional Welsh hymns, epic choral pieces, from Queen to Les Misérables the audience were so delighted with our rehearsals that a total of about £160 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. As many men die from this often ignored disease as women do from breast cancer. About one in eight men in Wales will suffer the effects of prostate cancer but, if ignored it 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 scary statistics bring home that in reality about TEN MEMBERS of our choir will suffer some form of this male cancer in their lives. If you are male, aged over 50 then take the test. Better a slight embarrassment than a painful death.
The Choir, its Cycle Club and Golf Society 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.
If you think Caldicot Male Voice Choir can assist you in your charity fund raising efforts by giving a concert, please contact us through our web site www.caldicotmalevoicechoir.co.uk. We will do our best to help you.