Bluebell's Busking Bonanza 2017 - in Aid of Cancer Research

Hello, and thank you for visiting my Just Giving Page!

My name is Paul Thompson, I'm a singer-songwriter from Norfolk, England. I've been writing songs and performing for about 20 years now, and have been lucky to tour professionally to some amazing places, such as Alaska and Canada, New Zealand, and much of Europe.

Perhaps my most memorable tour was in summer 2015, when I received funding from Arts Council England to tour from Norfolk to the Edinburgh Fringe in a specially converted milk float 'Bluebell', that I use as an outdoor music stage.

It was an incredible adventure, touring at a grand speed of 10mph as far north as the Outer Hebrides, playing music and running song-writing workshops, passing Britain's highest mountain Ben Nevis on my way to Edinburgh, and gaining a Guinness World Record for the longest journey by electric milk float along the way.

Just before leaving on tour, my dad had the terrible news that he was suffering from liver cancer. I was considering cancelling the tour altogether, as I hated the thought of leaving my dad in his time of need, while he underwent operations and radiotherapy which I knew would be exhausting for him, and possibly life threatening. 

Luckily I have two incredibly supportive brothers, and my whole family, including my dad, insisted that I went. There were constant phone calls while I was away, and despite many ups and downs my dad pulled through. It was a hugely emotional moment when I returned from tour 3 months later, and my dad came to the door for a big welcome home hug.

Sadly, my dad's recovery was only short-lived, and six months later he was re-diagnosed with terminal cancer. An awful 3 months followed, with myself and my brothers taking it in turns to care for my dad, enabling him to remain at home until almost a week before he passed away in June 2016.

I'm so grateful for all the help my dad received during his illness, from doctors, to the district nurses who came out daily, to my dad's neighbours who walked his dog for 6 months. Cancer is something that will touch all of our lives in some way, and I want to do something to lessen its impact for future generations.

That's why I'm embarking on 'Bluebell's Busking Bonanza Tour 2017', donating all of the proceeds to Cancer Research. I'll be setting off from Norfolk on 3rd June 2017, exactly one year since my dad passed away, travelling about 30 miles per day all the way to Land's End in Cornwall.

I'll be stopping to do lots of gigs along the way, details of which can be found at my website, www.paulsmusic.co.uk If you'd like me to come and play a gig for you please get in touch via the contact page on my website. The more gigs I get booked, the longer I can stay on the road fund-raising for Cancer Research, and who knows I might even beat my current Guinness World Record for the longest journey by milk float! 

There is no charge for me playing (except maybe a charge for Bluebell of the electric kind!), instead I'm asking for a donation from the venue towards Cancer Research, and will be collecting from the audience during the performance.

If you can't come and watch me play, you can follow the journey on my blog, Facebook and Twitter. All the details are at my website.

There are three main ways that you can donate to Cancer Research both before, during and after my tour:

1. Make a donation here on my Just Giving Page

2. Text a donation through Vodafone JustTextGiving: Simply text the code MILK62, followed by your chosen amount of £1, £2, £3, £4, £5, or £10 to 70070

3. Book me to play a gig, or come along and watch (all money collected will go to Cancer Research)

Please note that all donations through JustGiving and Vodafone JustTextGiving are totally secure, and they will never send you unwanted emails. All donations go directly to Cancer Research.

Hope to see you on the road in summer 2017!