The family of a Hagley man who broke his back have raised £3,200 as a thank you for the care he received at the famous Stoke Mandeville Hospital. Composer Andrew Downes is wheelchair bound after breaking his back when his hip gave way because of arthritis of the spine, which he has had since he was 12. His music-loving family embarked on an ambitious fundraising project in 2020 to host a year of musical concerts in celebration of Andrew’s 70th birthday to raise funds for Stoke Mandeville Spinal Research (SMSR). Andrew received care and support at the hospital’s National Spinal Injuries Unit in 2010.
From Elgar to Snow Patrol, there’s an eclectic mix of love songs being aired this Valentine’s Day to help Wyre Forest’s homeless. Kidderminster professional violinist and music teacher Anna Downes has refused to allow lockdown to scupper her Music for Sanctuary project which has so far raised more than £15,000 for homeless charities across the area in just two years. And that includes overcoming the devastating impact that Covid has had on the music industry. Anna, originally from Hagley, set up her Sanctuary scheme in January 2019 after being shocked at what she found when she and her son took some left over party food into Birmingham for the homeless.