Choir’s Ten Bandstands Challenge raises more than £10,000 for Alzheimer’s charity
A SOUTH Wales male voice choir has raised more than £10,000 for Alzheimer’s Society Cymru after completing a unique challenge that saw members perform at ten bandstands across South Wales in a single day.
Twenty choristers from Côr Meibion De Cymru, together with musical director Elaine Robins and the choir’s support team, took part in the inaugural Ten Bandstands Challenge on Sunday, May 31.
The ambitious fundraiser began at 7.00am at The Rath Bandstand in Milford Haven before travelling across South Wales, performing at bandstands in Tenby, Carmarthen, Kidwelly, Llandeilo, Neath, Barry Island, Penarth and Newport before concluding at Victoria Park Bandstand in Cardiff shortly before 8.00pm.
The choir’s day-long singing marathon has so far raised more than £10,000 in support of Alzheimer’s Society Cymru.
Choir chairman Gwynlais Phillips said members had been overwhelmed by the generosity shown by supporters.
“We are thrilled and delighted by the amount of money we’ve raised for Alzheimer’s Society Cymru,” he said.
“We thought we’d get to £5,000 – we never dreamed we’d smash through to over £10,000.
“This just shows how a dedicated, enthusiastic team of choristers can do something imaginative and different and raise substantial amounts of money for charity.
“We also want people to see that there is excitement and drive around Welsh male voice choirs. We are alive and kicking, promoting Welsh cultural traditions and redefining ourselves in a fast-changing world.”
The fundraising campaign remains open until June 13, with donations still being accepted through the choir’s JustGiving page.
The choir is now preparing for its next major appearances, including a Welsh Association of Male Choirs massed choir concert at Liverpool Anglican Cathedral on June 27.
Later this year, Côr Meibion De Cymru will host a pop-up choir project in Cardiff to raise funds for Prostate Cymru. Men of all ages will be invited to take part in a nine-week singing challenge aimed at attracting new voices and supporting another Welsh charity.
Organisers say the initiative will also highlight the social and wellbeing benefits of choral singing, while helping to preserve and promote Wales’ rich male voice choir tradition.
