A concert marking a choir's 50th anniversary has raised £1,500 for The Brain Tumour Charity.

Thames Valley Chorus held the event on September 28, entertaining the public with support from Great Western Chorus and the ladies quartet Fortuity.

The concert, held in Henley, was inspired by the memory of Phil Paine, a Thames Valley Chorus member who died from a brain tumour in 2023.

The Great Western Chorus, also affected by the disease, waived their fee for the event.

Almost 200 people attended the concert, enjoying performances of classics such as 'New York, New York' and a haunting arrangement of the folk song 'Scarborough Fair'.

Peter Leverett, chairman of Thames Valley Chorus, expressed pride in the event.

He said: "I was so proud to perform with the chorus, raising funds for such an important cause.

"We were looking forward to celebrating our 50th anniversary in a special way.

"Great Western Chorus is also 50 years old so it was wonderful to share the stage with them.

"The fact that they gave their fee straight back to us to boost the fundraising was a wonderful gesture.

"Fortuity also donated their fee to the cause."

The concert not only raised funds but also introduced many to the joys of acappella singing.

The choir, based in Woodley, is looking for new male members and will be running a series of open rehearsals throughout January 2025.

Brain tumours are the largest cancer killer of children and adults under 40, yet in the UK, less than 3% of cancer research funding is dedicated to brain tumours.

The Brain Tumour Charity is the UK's largest charity dedicated to brain tumours, funding pioneering research to improve survival and treatment options, raising awareness for early diagnosis, and providing support to those affected.

Firzana Khan, the charity's community fundraiser, expressed gratitude for the efforts of the fundraisers.

She said: "We are grateful for all the efforts made by our incredible fundraisers and thank them for putting on the concert – we look forward to hearing their next show soon!

"Brain tumours are the biggest cancer killer of the under 40s and survival rates have not improved significantly over the last 40 years.

"We are leading the way in changing this by fighting brain tumours on all fronts.

"It’s only through the efforts of groups like Thames Valley Chorus that we can change these shocking statistics in the future."

The cheque was presented to Leanna O'Neill, a support care officer representing the charity, by chairman Peter Leverett, music director Anne Fairbrother, and Martin Proctor, representing Great Western Chorus.