Busking for Breast Cancer

FOUR Nelson Mandela Bay musicians are set about doing their bit to raise awareness for breast cancer this month when they host a fundraiser at music haven, Toni’s Place, on Thursday this week.
 
October is international breast cancer awareness month. Busking for Breast Cancer is an initiative started in 2009 by local musician and businessman, William Pierce-Jones, after his mother developed breast cancer when he was a young boy.
 
“Everyone’s lives are affected by cancer nowadays, no-one goes through life without knowing someone who has or has had cancer,” said Pierce-Jones. “But as this epidemic grows, and with it cancers malignant in the breast, many women who are the life givers of our society are struck down.

“Breast cancer is a highly debilitating form of cancer because of not only its physical impacts but also its psychological effects.”

This belief has led Pierce-Jones to find a means to not only raise money for breast cancer but also to have fun and ease some of the psychological setbacks through music and “good tunes”.

“Busking for Breast Cancer speaks about a humble approach to collecting funds, as we ask little of people for a big cause – but it is also about using skills like musicianship to create joy out of pain.”

Pierce-Jones will perform with his niece Heather, 18, on Thursday, October 6 at Toni’s place. They are joined by Simon Shaw – Nelson Mandela Bay’s 2010 idol candidate and son of top Bay lawyer Philip Shaw who succumbed to cancer earlier this year – surf rocker Eitenne Vester, and  William Pinnock, of Special Agents fame.

The four musicians will play a medley of soft rock, folk and acoustic tunes. Busking for Breast Cancer takes place from 7pm on Thursday October 6 at Toni’s Place in Newton Park. Cover charge is R20 and “extra bucks for the buskers for breast cancer” are welcome in the guitar case.