Over £400 has been raised for charity at two recent Feel the Blues gigs.
The gigs were held at The Railway Club in Workington on September 24 and Nether Hall old boys club in Maryport on September 25. They followed on from previous events by raising awareness about how music helps those affected by dementia, while raising funds for the Alzheimer’s Society in the process.
Feel the Blues first started in 2015 as a way for Graeme McGrory to bring music to his long term partner Ann Westcott, who was diagnosed with PCA Alzheimer’s when she was 59 in 2010.
Although Ann is now in Dalton Court care home, she still loves music and Graeme continues to help arrange musicians to perform for her, residents and staff.
Graeme said: “During the five hour show at the Railway Club, their team collected donations, sold Alzheimer’s Society badges and ran a raffle, so a massive thank you to them. I am really proud that so far this year Feel the Blues events have raised over £1,500 and they are helping raise awareness of dementia.”
Now, several events and years on, the gigs have raised over £5000 and are still organised by Graeme alongside Mark Howes of Top Table Promotions.
The recent gigs, alongside collection buckets and the raffle, raised a further £440.99 for the Alzheimer’s society.
More Feel the Blues events are set to take place in the coming months including the Feel the Bonfire Blues at The Source Collective in Carlisle on November 6.
Feel The Aspatria RUFC Blues at the Rugby Club will take place on November 27 with Hardwicke Circus. The band will be supported by Somethin’ Brewin’.
The first event of 2023 will be Feel the Valentine Blues with The Wilson Brothers and Guests at Grasslot Club in Maryport on February 19.
