Choirs have a 'grand' time raising money for charity

A CHARITY'S appeal to raise funds to transform ward areas at Rotherham Hospital was on song – after a “truly amazing” choir performance led to a cheque for £1,000.

Rotherham Rotary Presents Vicky McClure's Our Dementia Choir was held at Greasbrough Working Men's Club and saw the club's choir perform alongside Rotherham’s mixed voice choir Friends in Harmony.

Pictured with the RITA are (L-R) RHCC's Rebecca Burgin, Rotary club president Michael Sumption, Rotary member and Friends in Harmony representative Roger Shaw, managing director of TRFTBob Kirton and Rotary member and cardiologist Leonard Jacob.

placeholder image — Pictured with the RITA are (L-R) RHCC's Rebecca Burgin, Rotary club president Michael Sumption, Rotary member and Friends in Harmony representative Roger Shaw, managing director of TRFTBob Kirton and Rotary member and cardiologist Leonard Jacob.

The actress formed the Our Dementia Choir in 2019, after her late grandmother's diagnosis of Alzheimer’s taught her the “healing power” of music.

Michael Sumption, joint president, said: “The Rotary Club of Rotherham was proud to welcome the esteemed Vicky McClure’s Our Dementia Choir to Rotherham led by Daniela Smith, the choir’s musical director.

“It was a privilege to be able to put on a concert alongside Friends in Harmony and it was a truly amazing performance.”

Rotherham Hospital and Community Charity’s Dementia Appeal aims to raise £250,000 to transform hospital wards into dementia friendly spaces for the thousands of people in the community affected by the condition.

Marketing and communications officer for the charity Rebecca Burgin said: “Thank you so much to the choirs – we are so thankful to everyone involved in this event for their support.

“The £1,000 raised by the event will go towards purchasing a RITA (Reminiscence Interactive Therapy Activities) machine, a piece of technological equipment that will benefit dementia patients at wards across Rotherham Hospital.”