Amateur singers who came together to form a choir have recorded a cover of ‘Stand By Me’ in the hope of raising £1 million for the NHS Charities Together coronavirus appeal.
The 150 members of the Essex-based Buskerteers, which existed as an in-person choir before heading online in lockdown, include medics and people who have lost loved ones to COVID-19.
They each recorded Ben E. King’s 1961 classic alone in their own homes before choir master Andrew Small combined their clips to create a stirring choral version. The final video was shared on the group’s Facebook page – and it has already garnered over 2,000 shares and raised an impressive £20,000 in just five days.
The appeal asks for people to donate £1 each via Virgin Money Giving, with funds going towards ‘accommodation, food, travel and counselling to NHS nurses, doctors, staff and volunteers fighting Covid-19.’
More than 150 people from across the UK have come together for a musical tribute to raise £1 million for the NHS. Pictured: Andrew Small, from Essex, and members of the Buskerteers
Alison Warner (pictured), from Writtle, who is a retired NHS midwife, said she wanted to show her support after losing her brother-in-law to coronavirus
Retired NHS midwife Alison Warner, from Writtle, told how she took part in the video after losing her brother-in-law to coronavirus.
‘I am a midwife of 34 years, recently retired and working for our NHS on the bank,’ she explained. ‘I have been proud to work for and be a member of our NHS family, and want to do whatever I can to support this great British Institution during these worrying and unprecedented times.
‘I have witnessed first-hand just how hard our NHS frontline workers work caring for our loved ones as sadly my sister Lyn lost her husband Ken on Easter Sunday to coronavirus.
‘I love being part of this wonderful choir, and even though we can’t meet in person, we continue to enjoy singing together during our weekly virtual sessions.’
The choir, who have groups in Shenfield, Writtle, Rochford and South Woodham Ferrers, originally had a mission to raise £1 million for charity via busking.
Andrew set up the Essex-based choir in January in the hope of busking to raise money for charity, however the choir became virtual when lockdown was announced. Pictured, the choir during rehearsal
Kate Gilbert (pictured), who works for the NHS, revealed the choir’s touching ballad reduced her to tears
However, in March, those dreams were shattered when the UK was put into lockdown – and so the idea to launch an online version with virtual rehearsals began.
Their latest campaign debuted on Friday 10th April and just 24 hours later, the video had been shared 1,300 times and £10,000 had been raised – which has since doubled.
Writtle choir member Julia Stack praised NHS staff as ‘true heroes’ and said her brother-in-law, John, who is a bed manager at Queen’s Hospital in Romford, thought the video was ‘beautiful.’
She went on to say his partner, Kate, who also works for the NHS, said the rendition brought her to tears.
‘This means so much to me as our NHS staff are true heroes,’ explained Julia. ‘Their day-to-day working life is so stressful and is now off the chart.’
Among the choir members is an NHS Biomedical Scientist, health visitor and qualified nurse. Pictured, Busketeers choir singing
‘Hopefully the video shows that we appreciate them and are thinking of them. I’ve signed up as a NHS and community volunteer for vulnerable neighbours, shopping for essentials, picking up prescriptions etc, so that I can contribute during this crisis.’
Other choir members that took part in the virtual rendition include a former NHS Biomedical Scientist, a qualified nurse and health visitor, and a woman whose son is a paramedic on the frontline.
Choir leader Andrew Small admitted he has been totally blown away by the response the project has had so far.
He commented: ‘I really believe we can do this! But we can’t do it on our own. We need all the help we can get.
‘So even if you don’t have a pound to spare, you could help us by spreading the word and sharing the video.’
Andrew Small has urged people to share the video to help spread knowledge of the fundraiser. Pictured, the Busketeers choir singing