A trio of Welsh celebrities has signed up to perform at a Christmas concert with a difference that is being hosted this year by Cerebral Palsy Cymru – Wales’ only specialist therapy centre for children and families living with cerebral palsy.
The charity will be hosting their ‘Very Merry Christmas Concert’ on Friday 11th December and has announced today that the virtual event will include music from West End singer Sophie Evans as well as a host of festive readings from BBC Wales newsreader Lucy Owen, Welsh music legend Max Boyce and Hollywood star Matthew Rhys.
The fundraising concert will also feature performances from the Cardiff University Singers, C.O.R, Clarinettist Christopher Gibbons and the Cerebral Palsy Cymru staff choir.
Traditionally, the charity, which was formerly known as Bobath Children’s Therapy Centre Wales, has always held its Christmas concert in St Mary’s Church in Whitchurch, but this year’s COVID19 restrictions have meant their plans had to change. The concert will instead be screened live via a closed link on YouTube at a cost of £15 per household.
Jennifer Carroll, Cerebral Palsy Cymru’s Centre Director, explains, the charity was determined to make alternative plans this Christmas when it became clear that the annual Christmas concert could not go ahead.
“As we all know, this Christmas is going to be a very different one for all of us but our team was keen to make sure that at least one of our normal festive traditions could still take place.
“While we are all obviously disappointed to be missing out on the chance to hold our concert in front of a live audience this year, we are incredibly excited to have such high profile names on board and are sure it will be a fantastic event that will raise much-needed funds for the charity at this difficult time.
“Holding the concert online will also give us a great opportunity to reach much further than our usual community of supporters in Whitchurch and North Cardiff as anyone from the whole of Wales – and even further afield – can join in this year.”
The event is being sponsored by Harding Evans Solicitors, who have offices in Whitchurch and in the centre of Newport. The law firm has been a long-standing supporter of Cerebral Palsy Cymru and, as chief executive Joy Phillips explains, was keen to support their efforts this Christmas.
“At Harding Evans, we have had an ongoing relationship with this important charity for over 15 years and always support them in any way we can, so we were really pleased to be able to sponsor their online Christmas concert.
“Like many other charities across Wales, Covid-19 has clearly had a significant effect on Cerebral Palsy Cymru. Its services are so vitally needed by the families of children with cerebral palsy who live here in Wales and would otherwise have to travel to London for their treatment, so they really need everyone’s continued donations and support.
“We wish them all the very best with the event and look forward to watching on the night.”
Cerebral Palsy Cymru’s ‘Very Merry Christmas Concert’ will take place at 7pm on Friday 11th December and will be streamed via YouTube. Tickets cost £15 and can be purchased by visiting https://bit.ly/VeryMerryChristmasConcert or by emailing [email protected]
