TCS London Marathon 2025 - Herts Musical Memories

Blanche Griffin is raising money for Herts Musical Memories
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London Marathon 2025 · 27 April 2025 ·

Herts Musical Memories Vicky McClure’s wonderful documentary ‘The Choir’, has really brought into sharp focus the importance of singing for people with dementia and yet singing for memory groups are closing all over the UK. Two years ago 15 Singing for the Brain groups, originally run by the Alzheimer's Society, were to be closed. It was to save these groups that I, Kerry Brabant, set up Herts Musical Memories - we managed to save 13 of the original 15 groups. We are a charity at the sharp end with no formal funding and very limited resources and yet we reach over 400 people weekly with our singing groups and many of our groups are full. The charity is so important to me - my father had vascular dementia and even though he died 4 years ago it still breaks my heart when I think of what happened to him. I hold onto the fact I was able to sing with him right up until he died and will never forget the last time we were together, how we held each other and sang Que Sera. The people who attend our groups are so brave. I love the fact that we are able to make them laugh, have fun and help them cope a little bit better when facing this terrible illness. One carer told me ‘You bring the sunshine into my mother’s life’. Please help us to continue to bring sunshine into people’s lives we would be so grateful. A one-off donation would be fantastic but if you could make a small regular payment to secure the future of the charity even better - do visit our website.

Story

On 27 April 2025 I shall be plodding around the course of the London Marathon and am using this opportunity to raise some money for a wonderful charity.

Herts Musical Memories (HMM) is a charity for those with memory problems and their carers to gather weekly and sing songs which they remember from their past. This is also a social gathering for them, their carers and volunteers who help organise the sessions.

My Grandma suffered from dementia and I recall vividly how her face would light up when she heard music she used to listen to and dance with my Grandpa to. It is amazing to see how singing old songs lifts mood and stimulates memories amongst both sufferers and their carers; which is precisely what HMM strives to do.

Any donation you can make to this great charity is greatly appreciated and will help get me through the very long trot I am about to embark on.

Thank you for your support.

Donation summary

Total
£1,510.00
Online
£1,510.00
Offline
£0.00

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