Children and Families Impacted by Cancer Perform Lockdown Version of Bill Wither’s Classic ‘Lean on Me’

Children and families impacted by cancer have come together virtually to perform the classic song ‘Lean on Me’.

During lockdown, 28 members of Cancer Fund for Children’s Care Free Choir belted out their own virtual version of the Bill Wither’s classic.

The song ‘Lean on Me’ carries an important message for the charity’s choir whose members include children and parents diagnosed with cancer, their family members, as well as some of the charity’s staff and volunteers.  It is a reminder that during the coronavirus pandemic that they are all in this together.

Throughout lockdown Cancer Fund for Children’s Care Free Choir have continued to meet virtually every week. It has been really important for vulnerable families impacted by cancer to maintain this connection amidst isolation.

Helen Patterson, Cancer Fund for Children’s Cancer Support Specialist, and one of the founding members of the Care Free Choir said,

“We have stayed connected online during the coronavirus pandemic by having a quiz night every week.  Whilst this has brought some much needed fun and has been a great opportunity to check in with one another, we have really missed singing together.

The idea to make a video initially came from one of our choir members and the song ‘Lean on Me’ seemed like the perfect choice. The lyrics sum up what a supportive community our Care Free Choir is, and this is exactly the safe space we as a charity wanted to create for the families.

The children and parents we support have experienced unimaginable pain and sorrow, but they have shown incredible strength and resilience in how they have faced the challenges of cancer and coronavirus. It makes me extremely proud to see how our choir members continue to support one another, whether it is helping to keep each other’s spirits high during treatment, celebrating someone finishing their treatment or comforting one another on some really difficult days.

The joy of the choir is that we spend just as much time laughing together as we do singing together. We are extremely proud of our video, and have been blown away with the response we have received online.  I would like to say a massive thanks to the very talented Lu Cro for editing the video together. We hope it brings just as much joy to those watching it as it did for us making it.”

Cancer Fund for Children’s mission is to connect, empower and strengthen children and young people age 0-24 who are struggling with a cancer diagnosis in their family.  The Care Free Choir is just one of the ways in which the charity is continuing to provide support during lockdown.  It is open to children age 8+ impacted by cancer and their family members, and is part funded by The National Lottery Community Fund Awards for All grant.

To find out more about the support Cancer Fund for Children offers families go to www.cancerfundforchildren.com or call 028 9080 5599.