Bostin' Black Country buskers boost hospital funds
A Bostin' Black Country busking duo are celebrating after raising more than £7,000 for Russells Hall Hospital.
Tom Stanton and Billy Spakemon, aka The Blue Granits, have smashed last year's total of £6,500 to buy specialist camera equipment for the hospital's diabetic unit.
The pair have worked tirelessly to raise funds for special lights on the Georgina Unit, which cares for haematology, or blood diseases, and oncology, cancer, patients.
This year, Tom and Billy have busked outside of their homes, on high streets, held special VE Day and clap for carers performances and even launched a CD, all to raise cash for the hospital.
Billy, whose real name is Dr. Brian Dakin, had been busking in Russells Hall Hospital until the pandemic struck.
Dr Dakin said: “What we have been trying to do, we are resident buskers at Russells Hall Hospital. Last year we raised money for diabetes.
“This year we are raising money for the Georgina Unit, the Leukaemia unit.
“Obviously with lockdown, we haven’t been able to go back in the hospital.
“So we have been trying to think of ways to keep fundraising. We have done a couple of shows and events on my drive and Tom’s drive."
He added: “We are trying to get LED lights, they are very special lights. If someone is having chemotherapy treatment, and they are having to lie on a bed for three or four hours, they are image screens on the ceiling so it calms them down and passes the time.
“They are great, they have got one already but we are obviously trying to get as many as we can.”
