Singers raise roof at Dudley fundraiser

The choir held its Summer Spectacular Performance, and by doing so helped to raise vital funds for Mary Stevens Hospice which they have been supporting over the past 18 months.

The event raised £920.50, which added to the money raised by Got 2 Sing over the past year and a half, means that in total they have collected over £11,000 for the hospice in Hagley Road.

The community choir organises adult choirs across the West Midlands, and welcomes anyone to join in to sing and socialise. Members receive singing lessons and develop contemporary vocal techniques, and perform in venues across the county.

There is also a thriving Got 2 Sing Youth Choir based in Stourbridge for budding young performers aged nine to16 who love to sing.

Got 2 Sing was set up five years ago by Jane Dunn and her daughter Beth, and now has 10 choirs. They regularly hold fundraising concerts, and in total have so far raised in the region of £84,000 for local charities.

Delighted with the success of Saturday's event, Jane said: "It was fantastic. There were 220 members on stage, so many that they had to use two stage extensions."

It followed a concert raising money for the Hospice which was held at Birmingham Symphony Hall last year. "It is such a worthy local cause, for which people will put their hands in their pockets."

Head of fundraising and lottery at Mary Stevens Hospice, Charlotte Schofield, said: "Mary Stevens Hospice is extremely lucky to work in partnership with Got 2 Sing choirs who, as well as raising the roof at all of their performances, have also helped the Hospice raise over £11,000 in total which goes directly towards funding patient care.

"The event on Saturday evening raised a fantastic £920.50. Without the support of the local community and local businesses the Hospice would not be able to support our patients and their families through a very difficult time in their lives and so we are extremely grateful to Got 2 Sing for everything that they do to support us".

The Hospice has been providing high-quality care for people living with cancer and other life-limiting illnesses in the Dudley borough and surrounding area since 1991. At its 10-bed in-patient unit and day therapies clinic, both located in Oldswinford, Stourbridge, it provides care tailored to each individual patient and their loved ones.

Services are offered to adults aged 18 years and over with illnesses such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, motor neurone disease, Parkinson's disease, advanced renal and cardiac disease, and HIV/AIDS.

For more details go to www.marystevenshospice.co.uk

To find out how you can get involved with Got 2 Sing, which has local choirs across the West Midlands, visit www.got2sing.co.uk