HEALTH COMES WITH STRINGS ATTACHED

THE power of music is not to be underestimated. This is the motto of Lara’s First Guitars Project that is refurbishing old guitars to donate to people in need.

Founder Kat Danaher, pictured, decided to give the gift of music to people battling mental illness or disability two years ago, after her guitar became her salvation.

“I started it after going through a rough patch myself, it was all I had to get me through,” Ms Danaher said.

“There’s a lot of people out there who can’t afford it.

“We’re trying to reach out to the people who need them, sometimes the people who are struggling don’t put their hand up.”

She, partner Terri Neal and friend Rob Caic have revamped about seven guitars and given them to people from various walks of life.

They hope the guitar will uplift people’s spirits, and allow them to express themselves through fun and creativity.

“We had one little fellow who had a form of autism and that was his own little project and gives him a lot of confidence,” Ms Danaher said. “It’s his own little world he got into.”

The old guitars are donated to the group, or sometimes bought cheaply, before being repaired.

Ms Danaher, who has played guitar for 21 years, encouraged people to donate their old guitars to the project.

The group is seeking donations of electric and acoustic guitars, amplifiers, strings, picks, cases and spare parts.

For more information or to contact the project head to facebook. com/firstguitars/