A talented singer will be showing a lot of love for a cash-strapped hospice on Valentine’s Day.
Award-winning mezzo soprano Sioned Terry, dubbed “the next Katherine Jenkins“, will be performing at a fund-raising event in aid of the St Kentigern’s Hospice, in St Asaph.
The Pendine Park care organisation and Denbigh Chocolate Shop have joined forces with Denbigh Film Club to put on a special screening of the romantic Hollywood film, Moonstruck, starring Cher and Nicholas Cage.
The event at Theatr Twm o’r Nant, in Denbigh, will start at 7.30pm on Tuesday, February 14.
Sioned, who gave up her teaching job at Howell’s School, in Denbigh, to become a professional singer, will be entertaining the film lovers with a repertoire of romantic songs.
A native of Caernarfon, the mother-of-one now lives in Towyn, near Abergele, with her police officer husband, Paul.
All the proceeds will go to the hospice which needs to raise £1.6 million a year – or £4,500 a day – to sustain its vital end of life care to adult patients across North Wales, East Conwy, Denbighshire and Flintshire.
Lindsey Thomas, a member of the hospice’s fund-raising team, said: “The need is huge.
“We have eight beds. Last year we had a crisis and we had to reduce it to four, and it was just awful having to turn people away, but we’re full more or less a 100 per cent of the time now.
“The eight beds are back open and we’re building the day care back up now, so we’re also getting that back on track.
“Our aim is to give people with life limiting disease the power to manage their own lives and give them the confidence and the ability to carry on life as much as normal as possible.
“We need to raise about £1.6 million a year to keep the hospice going – we get 18 per cent from statutory sources – so it’s a huge undertaking and we rely very heavily on fund-raising.
“The Moonstruck evening is a lovely idea and we’re so grateful, because we’re only a small fund-raising team.
“To come up with something that is different is always difficult but if you come up with something different that captures people’s imagination, they’re more inclined to attend. I think it’s a marvellous idea and I’m really looking forward to it.”
The audience will be treated to champagne and chocolates while canapes will be provided by the Com Amici Italian Bar and Kitchen when the doors open at 6.45pm and whatever is raised on the night will be matched by Barclays Bank
Denbigh Chocolate Shop is run by Mark Young and his wife, Mary, whose own mother died of cancer.
Mark said: “The hospice needs to raise £4,500 a day but it’s money that is very well spent and I am delighted that so many local businesses have come on board to help us.
“The hospice is a fantastic place. Whenever you go there you get a warm feeling. The staff are brilliant – you can sense the love in the place.
“The chocolate shop was opened in remembrance of Mary’s mother who passed away with cancer so we naturally feel it is important to support St Kentigern’s Hospice.”
Mario Kreft, the proprietor of the Pendine Park care organisation who lives in Denbigh, is equally passionate about supporting the hospice.
He said: “The hospice deserves our love and affection and the Valentine’s Day fund-raiser is the perfect opportunity to show that we care.”
“I am sure Sioned has a big future in front of her and it is no surprise that she has been compared with Katherine Jenkins.
“Like Katherine Jenkins, she is a former teacher – and she has the soaring talent to match.”
Sioned also has a personal reason to support the “wonderful work” of the hospice,
Her mother suffered from breast cancer, though thankfully she is now fully recovered.
Sioned said: “It’s nice to be able to take part in something where you feel you’re giving a little back.
“It’s a cause that is very close to my heart and cancer is something that has affected most families.
“I hope that film and music lovers will come in droves to support the wonderful work done by St Kentigern’s Hospice.”
Tickets available from St Kentigern Hospice Shops, Denbigh Chocolate Shop and Denbigh Film Club. For further details contact: Lindsay Thomas, St Kentigern Hospice on 01745 585221 or Lil Jones, Denbigh Film Club, on 01745 813426.
