Thanks for taking the time to visit the NMVC JustGiving page managed by our Musical Director; Stephen Bell. 

Here you have 2 x stories in one.  BOGOFF if ever there was one. 

1. The Northampton Male Voice Choir Story 

MEN Unite!

LEARN TO SING AND TO HELP RAISE MONEY FOR PROSTATE CANCER UK

Starting in March 2021 Northampton Male Voice Choir is challenging the men of Northamptonshire to join them and the wonderful soprano, Emily Haig and ‘The Tenor’ Joshua Daniel in a concert in Northampton to raise money for Prostate Cancer UK. This will probably be in September.  

To launch this challenge, the choir held two online open evenings on 15th and 22nd February 2021. Men were invited to learn to sing 4 songs over an 8-week period with the help of training by our charismatic Musical Director, Stephen Bell. At the end of the 8 weeks choristers will be ready to take to the stage with Northampton Male Voice Choir and perform these songs at a renowned festival and also at one of our high profile concerts, by which time we hope to have raised in excess of £20,000 in aid of Prostate Cancer UK.

Northampton Male Voice Choir is a registered charity with a long tradition of raising money for local charities, over £100,000 in the last 5 years, so it is very appropriate that a male voice choir should be raising money for Prostate CancerUK.

 Singing in a choir is great for your health with many benefits and positive effects including reducing the risk of heart disease, improved breathing, a positive effect on your immune system plus the mental benefits gained through the wonderful camaraderie that can be enjoyed through the training and beyond. 

2: NMVC Musical Director: Stephen Bell’s story 

Stephen is the Musical Director of the Northampton Male Voice Choir and the Market Harborough Orchestra. He is also Managing Director of his own training company - Red Kite (Training & Development) Limited. 

Stephen started running (after a considerable break) on March 23rd 2020 just when the Pandemic took hold within the UK and hasn’t stopped since. The first run was a shocker (on the running machine in the garage) but he was determined to keep going and building.  first proper event was in October 2020 (just before Lockdown) Stephens first event was when he crawled around the Bedford Aerodrome to complete his first 10K event - it was really tough as he had sustained an injury the week before (overtraining) but was determined to finish. 

Here, Stephen tells his own story. 

With NMVC undertaking a major Prostate Cancer UK fund-raising concert during 2021 I thought I should push on harder, much harder to try to complete a 10K in a better time, a Half Marathon too, and who knows, maybe even the London Marathon. (This has since been confirmed for October 2021). I'm not scared of pushing myself and at times it will be agonising - if not strangely addictive - but hugely rewarding as the distance climbs up and the times drop down. Please tell me they will, won’t they? 

I've run several Marathons before so I know it's not an easy task I've set myself but I also know what's required to get it done. As they say, it's not about getting to the finish line in a Marathon it's about getting to the start line. 

Listen to my interview here on BBC radio Northampton with Tom Percival about preparing for the Marathon. 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p09bkpbt

(Scroll fwd to around 1hr 37 mins)

Please help and share with your friends so that they can help too. Every single penny counts to help Prostate Cancer UK combat this disease. 

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.