A double bassist has organised an orchestral concert at the Music Hall to raise money to mark the 10th anniversary of her being diagnosed with leukaemia.
Mother-of-one Shona Owen and the Aberdeen Chamber Orchestra are preparing to put on a charity performance of classical music in aid of the Anchor Unit at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.
Originally from Sandwick in Shetland, Mrs Owen was treated at the hospital after she was first diagnosed in 2005.
After a long recovery process, she is back playing double bass, and will be joining the Aberdeen Chamber Orchestra on stage.
She is hoping the event, which will feature soloists from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and performances of Beethoven’s iconic Choral Symphony and Schubert’s Unfinished Symphony, will pack the Music Hall on Sunday, June 28.
Mrs Owen, who works as a project coordinator, said: “It’s coming up to the 10th anniversary of my diagnosis of leukaemia, and I suggested that we should do the concert as a fundraiser.
“The staff were absolutely terrific when I lived at the Anchor Unit, I’m still in contact with some of them and we’re still friends with on Facebook, they’re unbelievably wonderful people.
“When I was going through chemo there most of the time I was unconscious, it was a grossly harsh experience.
“I lost all the skin off my body and the nails of my hands, so apart from fatigue my body wasn’t physically capable of playing the double bass.
“There was a great period of time when I couldn’t even get out of bed, but when I was recovering my musical friends were unbelievably supportive, and helped me to play again, it was really therapeutic for me.
“We’re hoping to raise as much as we can for Anchor by a combination of ticket sales and sponsorship, we want to do everything we can for Anchor because they are just so important.”
Conductor Gareth John of the Aberdeen Chamber Orchestra said: “It’s very important that we’re able to reach out to as wide an audience as we can and classical music really is for everybody.
“Beethoven’s Choral Symphony, which is what we will perform, is probably one of the most well known pieces of music in the world.
“I’m very aware that the Anchor unit does tremendous good for those with cancer in north-east Scotland, and that we can have the opportunity to play such wonderful music and at the same time support their tremendous work is a huge honour for me.
“I’m sure that such an exciting concert will prove attractive to potential sponsors, so we have the chance to raise a lot of money for the Anchor unit.”
Friends of Anchor fundraising manager Sarah-Jane Hogg said: “We love stories like Shona’s – a living breathing example that cancer can be beaten.
“The appreciation and admiration she still holds so dear for the Anchor unit 10 years on well and truly celebrates the clinical team there and their exemplary care.”
To book tickets for the event or to find out sponsorship opportunities call Mrs Own on 07732 113788 or email her at shona.owen@btinternet.com.