Raising awareness is a family affair for Sir John
A NEWCASTLE hospital boss played a cameo role in a music video performed by his singing family to raise awareness about prostate cancer.
Sir John Burn – chair of the Newcastle Hospitals NHS Trust – features in the video for the Marsh Family Sinamily’s light-hearted version of Bobby Darin’s tune Mack The Knife.
The Marsh family just happen to be Sir John’s daughter Danielle, son-in-law Ben and grandchildren Alfie, Thomas, Ella and Tess. The sextet became viral sensations at the pandemic’s outset by performing musical versions of classic showtunes from their living room.
Sir John himself was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2018 and underwent surgery.
The video sees Sir John – and wife Linda – in the famous Moth Club in Hackney in East London while their talented family appear on stage and perform their riff on the song, retitled ‘Facts of Life’. Lyrics in the reworked tune – adapted by dad Ben – include: “Oh the prostate, it’s a gland, dear. And it’s hidden deep inside.”
All money raised by the song will go towards Prostate Cancer UK.
Danielle Marsh said recording the glitzy video had been a “fabulous” way of raising awareness about an illness that affects one in eight men, adding: “We were so lucky with my dad but even he nearly left his concerns too late. We hope the lyrics will make people smile but also make them start discussions with loved ones about actions that they may need to take.
“It’s so easy to push worries and concerns to one side with a busy life and a pandemic overshadowing everything, but if we can encourage people to make that GP appointment and gain peace of mind or an early diagnosis, that would be amazing and feel like some of this attention and focus we’ve had in the past 18 months has been put to good use.”
To find out more about the video, visit prostatecanceruk/ marshfamily