Leighton Buzzard’s Glee Club raise £2,000 for local dementia charity
Local choir Glee Club have been busy raising an incredible £2,000 for local dementia charity Tibbs Dementia Foundation. The cheque presentation took place at Tibbs’ twice-monthly activity and games group at Astral Park Community Centre last week. Glee Club members Emma Johnson and Rebecca Sargeant, whose mother attends both the choir and the dementia group, chose to fundraise for Tibbs as it is a charity which is hugely important to them. They said: ‘When we were deciding which charity to support, Tibbs felt like a natural and very personal choice. Our connection to this charity is also shared by many members of our choir. Choosing Tibbs has meant we have been able to help a charity which has personally supported our own family since our mum’s diagnosis. Raising money for them is our way of saying thank you while helping to ensure that this invaluable lifeline remains there for others when it is needed most.’
The club raised the money via various fundraising means, including cake sales, raffles and donations at their gatherings. They also put on a fundraising concert at Wingrave Parish Church on the 11 July.
Tibbs Dementia was delighted to receive this large donation. Sarah Russell, who is the CEO of the charity said: ‘We are so grateful to the Glee Club for their successful fundraising efforts. The money they raised will have a significant impact on the services we offer across the Leighton Buzzard area. This will enable us to continue to offer a wide range of activities and support over the coming year to enable local families to live as well as possible, to feel connected, hopeful, and to be part of a warm and supportive community.’
Tibbs Dementia Foundation is an award-winning Bedfordshire dementia charity operating across Central Beds and Bedford Borough. With over 40 regular activity groups to choose from, there is something for everyone. Examples of local activities in the south of the county include Cognitive Stimulation Therapy, games and activity groups, walking football and croquet. They also support family carers with regular online and face-to-face support groups, as well as one-to-one telephone support. For more information about how to access their services call 01234 210993 or email [email protected].
The Glee Club is a local choir of around 70 members, which has been running for almost 13 years. They sing songs chosen by the members themselves – rock, pop, musical theatre – whatever takes their fancy. Anyone over the age of 18 can join; no auditions, no previous experience, and no music reading skills are needed, just a love of singing. To find out more about the choir, go to their website at https://www.gleeclubuk.com/home/find_a_choir/view_a_club.aspx?id=23.