Choirs that provide a musical lifeline for those with dementia and their carers will perform a Christmas concert at Manchester Cathedral this weekend.
Charity Together Dementia Support (TDS) will stage the festive extravaganza to raise funds for its vital work for people living with dementia across Greater Manchester.
The event at 2pm-4pm on Sunday, December 15, will feature the charity’s gospel choir Together in Song and The Choir That Can, both of which feature those supported by the charity.
They will be joined by soprano Nicola Mills, the Crumpsall Concert Band and Button Lane Primary School Choir for Christmas songs and family fun.
Carer Norma Stewart, from Stretford, will be in the audience to watch her 81-year-old mum, Hope Stewart, perform with the gospel choir. The family has been supported by TDS since 2019, a year after Hope’s diagnosis, and described the charity as “a lifeline”.
Norma said: “My mum loves music and singing and can remember the lyrics to songs even now – when she’s on stage she’s confident and feels at home, and it’s lovely to see her smiling and dancing around.
“TDS picks her up from home and drops her off after rehearsals, which is a lifeline for her and for us who care for her because we know she’s being looked after and doing something she loves. She also used to play badminton so TDS arranges for her to play table tennis, which is amazing.”
The charity, which people can be referred to or refer themselves to, offers activities and support for those with dementia as well as support for their carers, who can often find their situation a lonely place.
Norma added: “Carers are often forgotten about, but they’re affected by dementia too. There are social events for carers so we can talk to other people going through the same thing, which is really useful.
“The charity isn’t about finding a cure but finding day-to-day solutions and giving hope to people affected by dementia.”
It’s the second time TDS has organised a Christmas concert and tickets are priced at £15 for adults and £3 for under 16s.
Fundraiser Miranda Kaunang got involved with the charity through her mum, who suffered with dementia.
She said: “TDS is all about ‘life beyond 9am’ – when everyone is up and dressed, what do we do now to stop people from spending time doing nothing, deteriorating.
“The charity is vital to Greater Manchester and concerts like this allow us to continue to provide these amazing services to people who would have no support otherwise. The choirs are so inspiring and we can’t wait to see everyone take to the stage on Sunday.”
For tickets, visit: https://www.togetherdementiasupport.org/event-details/christmas-at-the-cathedral-1
