Belfast Community Gospel Choir to bring colourful music concert

Belfast Community Gospel Choir to bring colourful music concert

19 June 2019

THE fabulous Belfast Community Gospel Choir is returning to Downpatrick this September for a fundraising concert.

The Quoile Bar and Bistro at the Strangford Road is hosting the event to raise funds for Cancer Focus NI, with the concert in memory of local woman Mrs Lorna Telford being sponsored by Phoenix Natural Gas.

The September 28 concert — which starts at 7.30pm —  is being organised by Lorna’s daughters Emma and Evie with the event taking place shortly after the fifth anniversary of their mum’s passing following a long battle with lung cancer, despite being a non-smoker.

Lorna was a former assistant director with the South Eastern Trust and was held in high regard by her peers, particularly in the field of safe and effective care. 

Two years ago, the Downpatrick sisters raised over £8,000 for Cancer Focus NI in memory of their mum during a concert headed by the widely acclaimed Belfast choir.

Members of the multi-cultural gospel choir are looking forward to performing again in Downpatrick to help raise funds for a charity which helped Emma and Evie during their mum’s illness and after her death.

Emma in particular is looking forward to the concert as she is a member of the Belfast choir, renowned for its dynamic performances, charged with joy, passion and energy.

Choir members come from all parts of Northern Ireland and are led by their incomparable director, Marie Lacey with her natural exuberance and enthusiasm mirrored by every BCGC performer. 

Her great passion has always been gospel and soul music and in 2009 formed the choir — which is made up of 100 auditioned singers — who perform to packed houses in various-sized ensembles.

Emma and Evie have organised a number of events in aid of Cancer Focus NI, raising thousands pounds for the organisation as their way of giving something back to the charity which provided key support to them at a particularly challenging time in their lives. 

The sisters are also planning to hold a raffle on the night with all proceeds going directly to a charity which has worked with many families across the district.

Emma and Evie — who miss their mum so much — want to help the charity which provides vital support to children who have a parent suffering from cancer and those who have lost a mum or dad to the disease.

“Evie and I are delighted to organise another concert in memory of our mum whom we miss very much,” said Emma. “Mum put patients at the centre of everything she did in her role with the South Eastern Trust and we are pleased to keep her memory alive by fundraising for Cancer Focus which supports children who have experienced a loss similar to us.”

The sisters are also pleased that their mum’s memory lives on through awards presented by Queen’s University and South Eastern Trust.

Emma added: “Cancer Focus NI provides a wide range of services for cancer patients and their families and Evie and I want to give something for the back for the help and support we have received from the charity. 

“We have seen at first hand the magnificent work it does for others and it is an organisation we are proud to be associated with. We know that mum would be delighted that we are continuing to support the charity as it helped her during her illness. The concert will be an event not to be missed and we hope people will support it.”

Evie said she and Emma were fortunate to have a wonderful, loving mum whom they miss terribly. 

She added: “Mum was everything to us and while she is no longer here, we get so much from raising money to help other families who rely on the Cancer Focus Family Support Service.

“It is painful not having our mum around, but Emma and I get so much out of keeping her memory alive and, at the same time, helping other children and young people who may have lost a mum or dad to cancer.

Concert tickets, priced £12.50 are available at Down Recorder reception or from David Telford (07779 054029) and Emma Telford (07528 019667). 

A limited number of children’s tickets priced £8 are also available. Tickets and can also be purchased online via the Cancer Focus website or contact charity representative Barbara Long, telephone (028) 9066 3281, email barbaralong@cancerfocusni.org.