News: Rotherham shop keeper joins dementia fundraising campaign

Rotherham businessman Kevin Holland is proving that even the smallest act of generosity can make a massive difference to a charity like Lost Chord.

Kevin, who runs Kev's Shoe Repairs in Maltby, always has a collecting tin on his counter in support of Lost Chord, the organisation that provides vital interactive musical experiences for people living with dementia in care homes and day centres across the region and nationally.

And in the five plus years he has been supporting Lost Chord, customer donations of just small change have raised an impressive £400.

"Lost Chord is a local charity that does some brilliant work for people with dementia," said Kevin.

"I'm really pleased that just those bits of loose change can make a real contribution to what the charity is doing."

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Helena Muller, chief executive of Lost Chord, added: "The smallest gestures can make the greatest difference.

"All Kevin's customers can be assured that every penny they donate goes direct to supporting people living with dementia, for whom music is often their only way of connecting with loved ones.

"If you think your customers could help support people with dementia why not contact us for a collecting tin and join Kev's campaign to help bring joy into the life of all those people out there struggling with dementia."

Starting out in Rotherham care homes in 1999, Lost Chord now produces more than 1,300 interactive musical sessions a year in 130 homes, designed to stimulate responses from people with dementia through the media of music, song and dance. Patrons include Sir Cliff Richard, Lesley Garrett and Dame Vera Lynn.

Lost Chord website

Images: Lost Chord

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News: Julie Kenny becomes a patron of Lost Chord

Leading South Yorkshire businesswoman Julie Kenny has become a patron of top dementia charity Lost Chord.

Mrs Kenny is the managing director of Rotherham intruder alarm manufacturer Pyronix, a company she founded in the 1980s, and she is also a director of its parent company, Secure Holdings.

Named as Private Business Woman of the Year 2014, Kenny is also a commissioner at Rotherham Council, given the lead on growing the local economy, ensuring the council is working with others to improve jobs and housing opportunities. She is also be overseeing the council's relationships with partners, and the voluntary and community sector.

In her new role as patron of Lost Chord she will be joining opera star Lesley Garrett, legendary Forces favourite Dame Vera Lynn and pop star Sir Cliff Richard.

Maltby-based Lost Chord was founded in 1999 and visits residential care homes and day centres throughout the area. It produces more than 1,300 interactive musical sessions a year in 130 homes, designed to stimulate responses from people with dementia through the media of music, song and dance.

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Helena Muller, founder and chief executive of Lost Chord, said: "We are truly delighted that Julie has found the time in her extremely busy schedule to support us and become a patron.

"She is not just a well known South Yorkshire business woman but also a nationally acclaimed expert in so many fields and one who will be able to take the message of the work we are doing at Lost Chord into many new areas, which is vital to our future growth and success.

"She has always been extremely supportive of what we are trying to achieve and is already one of the principal sponsors of our annual Wentworth gala dinner and concert with Lesley Garrett.

"I know that she will now be finding many more positive and constructive ways to spread the word about Lost Chord."

Kenny is also a director of the British Security Industry Association, a UK commissioner for employment and skills, sits on the Small Business Forum, and is a member of both the Better Regulation Stakeholder Group and the Administrative Burdens Advisory Board.

A former High Sheriff of South Yorkshire, she was the first female president of Rotherham Chamber of Commerce where she is now an honorary director.

Pyronix website
Lost Chord website

Images: Lost Chord

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