Musicians ‘Gigging 4 Gold’ to raise funds
WHEN a mother whose child had neuroblastoma followed music promoter Jayne Kemish on Twitter, she Googled the rare condition to discover that it was one of the worst forms of childhood cancer.
Just months later in August last year, Cynon Valley-based Jayne was so compelled to do something to help families dealing with the illness, she had set up her own charity Guitars 4 Good.
Now she is preparing for a fundraising concert this weekend, Gigging 4 Gold, which will see some of the finest up and coming rock bands perform in Aberdare in a bid to raise hundreds of pounds for her charity.
Jayne Kemish of JD Music Promotion and Paradiddles, Plectrums and Posers’ music website, explained: “The more childrens’ stories I read, the more I wanted to do something to help. I can’t do much in the scheme of things, but childhood cancer research is greatly underfunded and so I help to spread awareness via the Guitars 4 Good website and social media pages, and help to get the children’s stories ‘out there’ so that they are not forgotten and their battles are not in vain.”
Aside from raising awareness, Jayne also now designs what she calls “comfort cushions” for children with cancer as well as bereaved mothers who have lost a child to the disease.
She said she got the idea after seeing two young sisters, Jessica and Hayley, when they hadn’t seen each other for three weeks due to Hayley being in hospital, with their hands pressed together against the glass on a hospital door. Jessica is in remission from neuroblastoma while Hayley is still fighting it.
Jayne said: “I designed personalised cushions for each of the sisters incorporating their photographs, as I thought that with their cushions they’ll always be able to hug each other even if not in person.
“I call them ‘comfort cushions’ as I hope they give some emotional comfort as well as the usual physical comfort a cushion gives.
“The first couple of cushions I paid for myself, but I have since received several donations which have enabled me to do more.”
She said the cushions have had “amazing” feedback on social media and photos of the five designed so far can be seen on the website.
The Gigging 4 Gold event in Aberdare this weekend coincides with Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, as gold is the colour of the awareness ribbon.
It’s taking place on Saturday at Jac’s in Wind Street, and will feature three up and coming rock bands from across South Wales: The Starling Radicals, Nuclear Lullaby and Beyond The Break, whose drummer Aled Richards spent many years drumming for platinum album selling ‘Cool Cymru’ band Catatonia.
‘Gigging 4 Gold’ is dedicated to the memory of seven-year-old Eva Bevan, from Ebbw Vale who lost her fight against neuroblastoma in May this year.
The music starts at 9pm, and the cost for entry is £3.
If you would like to help Guitars 4 Good in some way, please email Jayne on: info@guitars4good.co.uk.