The kindness of strangers

When bits of ‘non-me’ started growing out of control and needed removing, I had no idea this illness would lead me to a bunch of people whose daily motivation is truly beyond me. People who find reserves of kindness and generosity of time when everyone else is flying around at increasing speeds in preparation for the annual 24 hour shutdown.

http://www.Hopefulnotes.org is a non profit local music society led by Tom Van Kaenel whose aim is to help and heal through music. These hopeful noters and friends gave up every lunchtime this week to perform carols in The Churchill Hospital in aid of Beating Bowel Cancer. This is even more remarkable as I only had the pleasure of meeting Tom recently and I am sure these volunteers all had charities that were closer to their hearts.  But their heartfelt singing not only gave a very necessary lift to the patients (one of them I remembered from my stay who unfortunately was still enjoying the Churchill’s hospitality), visitors and staff, but encouraged people to donate a massive £500.00 to Beating Bowel Cancer.   I do find this amazing and I can only conclude that from my experience the more austere our circumstances and depressing the news is, the more this is countered and exceeded by the growing pool of kindness, positivity and generosity.

Felicia (and Esme) from Hopeful Notes handing over £500.00 cheque

Hopeful Notes singing this lunchtime with their honorary new member!

And to end 2011 on a positive (or hopeful!) note, we also raised £200.00 from last Friday’s Bananagiraffes piano ‘concert’.  Massive thanks to all involved again and especially Lauren, Lois and Joseph for collecting on the day and afterwards around the village.