Bolton Cancer Voices, the North West’s Choir for cancer patients and cancer survivors is searching the region for new talent.
Founded in 2012 membership is open to cancer patients at any stage in their cancer journey and cancer survivors regardless of the time since diagnosis. The Choir accepts people from any geographical area as long as they can get to the centre of Bolton for rehearsals, which take place on Monday evenings, 7.30pm-9pm.
The Choir provides a positive, motivational and diversionary environment in which members have fun, enjoy the challenges and exhilaration of performing and have a focus aside from their illness: it offers an informal forum to meet with others in a similar situation and benefit from mutual support and understanding.
There are no less than 14 individual tumour types represented in Bolton Cancer Voices and analysis shows that a third of members joined within 12 months of receiving their diagnosis; the shortest period being 1 day post diagnosis and the longest 55 years!
An audit undertaken last year indicated that the Choir is proving to have more than just entertainment value for its members with 80% of respondents reporting they felt they had benefited physically, mentally or emotionally from being in the Choir; 80% citing mental or emotional benefits and 60% physical. Reported outcomes included improved breathing; increased energy levels; a more positive outlook and an increased sense of well-being.
To ensure the Choir is accessible to all no previous singing experience is required; you don’t need to be able to read music; there are no auditions and unbelievably membership is FREE!
Though cancer brings this Choir together they don’t permit it to define or confine them: Bolton Cancer Voices is a community Choir like any other, with a full and varied programme of performances and activities, which already runs in to 2016!
Karen Elliott Founder and Chair of Bolton Cancer Voices says: - ‘You will never meet a more amazing, fun-loving, positive and inspirational group of people than the members of Bolton Cancer Voices and I’m extremely proud of how far we’ve come together in a relatively short period of time. The Choir is everything and more that I hoped it would be.’
Last year the Choir’s hectic festive season saw them undertake a performance for a private function, present their second ‘Jingle Bell Sing-A-Long’ concert accompanied by the renowned Besses o’ th’ Barn Band; record their first CD and appear in Manchester Cathedral at the annual Christmas Celebration of Greater Manchester Police.
