Please know, you can make a difference. 

We set up this page for those who are not able to attend our Opera Gala on September 29th in Edinburgh.

In 2013, a friend of ours noticed a lump on her abdomen. She was told various things by medical professionals; perhaps she was pregnant, was it a cyst, they tried removing several organs etc. Less than a year later, she died of aggressive ovarian cancer. She was only 21 years old.

Our sweet, bubbly childhood friend was gone, and she took a piece of us with her.

Friends devastated. Her family broken. It really was a traumatic time. For those of you who have experienced something similar, you will know, in a sad way, life stops for a while, with a cold numbness that doesn't really want to shake itself away. 

Something that really helped me get back on track and feel joy again after she died was music. Opera music is not everyone's preference, and it certainly does not fill the space left by our departed friend, but for myself and others taking part in this concert, this music gives us purpose, makes us feel alive and helps us celebrate life.

Many of the participants in the orchestra, choir and a few of the soloists in the concert have had friends, mothers and grandmothers die from the disease. Two of our performers actually managed to overcome the disease. One man lost his wife from the cancer, and will sing for her during the performance.

We believe Target Ovarian Cancer and the work they do really does make a difference in the lives of those living with the disease and pushes the work forward, medically, so women young and old, never experience the illness. The charity put so much effort into raising awareness, so doctors, nurses and other women can identify the symptoms quicker.

This would have helped my friend so much and probably saved her, had the symptoms been recognized earlier.

If you are in Edinburgh on 29th September, please come and support the concert. If you are not able to do so, please give anything you can to the cause. We send our thoughts to those who have experiences with ovarian cancer, or any other cancer for that matter.

Thank you for your love and support

Michael and all the musicians involved in the Opera Gala.