Post by Tanith Messenger on Feb 15, 2010 16:29:24 GMT
MS sufferer's sound idea for cash
Sunday 14th February 2010
By Ben Ellery
Eddie Yarker, left, with Chris Passey
WHEN prize-winning sportsman Eddie Yarker was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis he felt like his life was crashing down around him.
After a horrific fall in March 2003, the keen cyclist was shocked when doctors told him he would eventually end up in a wheelchair.
Since then Mr Yarker, 55, from Milton Road, Sutton Courtenay, has rediscovered his love of music and raised more than £5,000 for MS charities.
The father-of-two, who plays several instruments and is a member of Wantage Silver Band, was joined by the band and Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat star Chris Passey for a concert last Saturday night at Didcot Civic Hall.
Mr Yarker, a maintenance engineer, said: “It was a fantastic night. I’d been worried about ticket sales but we managed to sell out the 200 seats.
“It was a total shock when I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, I even had to ask the doctor what it was.
“I’m very competitive, and have won prizes at cross-cycling, so when I was told I would end up in a wheelchair I focused that energy into music. There’s no known cure for MS and so we’ve got to try and raise as much funding for the charities as possible.”
Following Mr Yarker’s fall he suffered pins and needles and doctors spent five months investigating before diagnosing MS.
Mr Yarker, who once averaged 250 miles a day cycling from Land’s End to John O’Groats, decided to return to music, which we first discovered at the age of 10, when he learnt to play the cornet and trumpet.
During a rehearsal he met Mr Passey, and the pair discussed MS as Mr Passey’s father is also a sufferer.
They decided to put on a concernt and Mr Passey, 23, from Stourbridge, in the West Midlands, performed two songs from Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat as well as one of his own compositions. He said: “Raising money for MS is something very dear to my heart and I’ve been involved with other fundraising concerts.
“The concert was absolutely fantastic, the band played superbly and the audience were completely reactive.”
© Copyright Newsquest Media Group A Gannett Company
© Copyright www.oxfordmail.co.uk
Sunday 14th February 2010
By Ben Ellery
Eddie Yarker, left, with Chris Passey
WHEN prize-winning sportsman Eddie Yarker was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis he felt like his life was crashing down around him.
After a horrific fall in March 2003, the keen cyclist was shocked when doctors told him he would eventually end up in a wheelchair.
Since then Mr Yarker, 55, from Milton Road, Sutton Courtenay, has rediscovered his love of music and raised more than £5,000 for MS charities.
The father-of-two, who plays several instruments and is a member of Wantage Silver Band, was joined by the band and Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat star Chris Passey for a concert last Saturday night at Didcot Civic Hall.
Mr Yarker, a maintenance engineer, said: “It was a fantastic night. I’d been worried about ticket sales but we managed to sell out the 200 seats.
“It was a total shock when I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, I even had to ask the doctor what it was.
“I’m very competitive, and have won prizes at cross-cycling, so when I was told I would end up in a wheelchair I focused that energy into music. There’s no known cure for MS and so we’ve got to try and raise as much funding for the charities as possible.”
Following Mr Yarker’s fall he suffered pins and needles and doctors spent five months investigating before diagnosing MS.
Mr Yarker, who once averaged 250 miles a day cycling from Land’s End to John O’Groats, decided to return to music, which we first discovered at the age of 10, when he learnt to play the cornet and trumpet.
During a rehearsal he met Mr Passey, and the pair discussed MS as Mr Passey’s father is also a sufferer.
They decided to put on a concernt and Mr Passey, 23, from Stourbridge, in the West Midlands, performed two songs from Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat as well as one of his own compositions. He said: “Raising money for MS is something very dear to my heart and I’ve been involved with other fundraising concerts.
“The concert was absolutely fantastic, the band played superbly and the audience were completely reactive.”
© Copyright Newsquest Media Group A Gannett Company
© Copyright www.oxfordmail.co.uk