Ending on a high note
Our dad died unexpectedly of coronary heart disease. For us it
was important to do something in his memory and to raise money for
an appropriate cause.
Dad had been an extraordinary pianist,
singer and songwriter. My brother and I had performed with him at
the Jazz Café in London some years ago, so it seemed the obvious
place to put on a fundraising concert for him.
A BHF Gift of Hope Heart
Fund helped us do that, and it captured the imagination of
our family and friends. In front of over 350 family and friends, my
two sisters joined my brother and me and the rest of our band as we
played a set-list we had specially rehearsed for the night.
In the interval, David Lipkin, a cardiologist and family friend,
spoke about heart disease and the BHF. Then mum joined us on stage
to draw the raffle.
The highlight of the night came when we screened footage of dad
playing the piano at Cadogan Hall. Everyone watched in wonder. It
made us all extremely proud. And, of course, it drove home just
what heart disease had taken from us.
In all, we raised over £20,000. Dad still managed to steal the
show – but we wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.
