Current and former NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde staff members have helped a charity raise £18,000 for young people affected by cancer and their families.
Young Lives vs Cancer operates across the UK and provides support and guidance to children and young people with cancer and their relatives to help them cope.
As part of its fundraising activities, the charity holds a Christmas concert in Glasgow every year, with a choir including past and present staff members from NHSGGC performing on stage.
This year’s event, conducted by Alistair Digges, was held at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall and was supported by TV presenter Sally Magnusson, The Voice UK star Jeremy Levif and pupils from Kelvindale Primary School.
The Glasgow Hospitals’ Christmas Choir were also joined on stage by the Glasgow Chamber Orchestra.
In the months leading up to the performance, the concert choir and committee held fundraisers at their weekly rehearsals as well as bake sales and craft and bric-a-brac stalls.
The group also attracted “carol sponsorship” from friends, family and local businesses and put on a separate performance at Glasgow Central Station in November to raise funds and promote the Christmas concert.
They also raised money through ticket sales, online donations and bucket collections, and raised £18,000 in total.
A reception to celebrate the fundraising milestone was held at Gartnavel General Hospital last week, which was attended by group members and NHSGGC Vice Chair Ian Ritchie.
The event heard how £18,000 could be used by Young Lives vs Cancer to pay for 692 hours of its social workers’ time, giving children, young people and their families facing cancer support when they need it most.
It could also pay for 473 overnight stays at one of the charity’s Homes from Home, all of which are close to treatment centres, or for 180 Young Lives vs Cancer grants, which help ensure no one has to choose between paying household bills over travelling to hospital.
Plans are already in place for this year’s concert which will take place on 6 December, with tickets available from late summer.
Ian Ritchie, NHSGGC Vice Chair, said: “I was delighted to attend a reception to celebrate the amazing contribution of current and former staff members to raise funds for such a worthwhile case.
“I was so impressed by the enthusiasm of the choir members, who spent six weeks attending practices in the run-up to the Christmas concert to ensure they were fully prepared.
“In addition to their impressive singing, the group raised an incredible £18,000 and everyone at NHSGGC is extremely proud.”
Carol Jones, Young Lives vs Cancer Fundraising Manager for South and West Scotland, said: “When cancer strikes young lives we fight tirelessly to limit the damage it causes beyond their health.
“We rely entirely on donations to fund our vital work and so we can’t thank the Glasgow Hospitals’ Christmas Concert choir and committee enough for their fantastic efforts.
“The concert is now going into its 44th year, and we are so proud of its history and the connection and support we continue to have with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.
“This year we are also seeking additional volunteers to help at rehearsals, backstage on the night of the concert, and for new committee members. If anyone would be interested in finding out more, they can contact me directly at carol.jones@younglivesvscancer.org.uk.”
