Anna Freud Centre a charity beneficiary for DrumathonLIVE 2021

11th May 2021  |  By: Michelle Cunliffe

The Anna Freud Centre and the UK Trauma Council, which is hosted and supported by the Centre, are two of the beneficiaries for the fundraising efforts of DrumathonLIVE 2021.

Multi-platinum drummer Errol Kennedy of 80s group Imagination and artist, songwriter Bev Sage of 80s duo Techno Twins are leading this year’s DrumathonLIVE 2021.

This event starts in Mental Health Awareness Week on Saturday, 15 May at 10:00 with continuous drumming until Saturday, 22 May at 22:00. Errol Kennedy will kick off DrumathonLIVE’s #drum4mentalhealth introducing 7 days or 300 hours of non-stop drumming. Fifty world class drummers are confirmed to play, such as Will Champion of Coldplay, Nick Hodgson of Kaiser Chiefs, Phil Gould of Level 42, Cherisse Osei of Simple Minds, and Ian Matthews of Kasabian.

They drum from their homes and studios around the world, and drummers virtually pass the batons on to the next drummer. All the drumming will be live streamed and the marathon drumming finished off with a live-streamed show with celebrity interviews, musical guests, and an online music memorabilia auction.

This year, because of the pandemic, the decision was made to support and raise awareness of mental health. This year’s target is to raise £100,000 – with all proceeds from the event donated to the Anna Freud Centre, UK Trauma Council, Mind, Child Bereavement UK and NHS Charities Together.

Errol Kennedy says: “We all recognise that along with the pandemic and lockdowns mental health will be one of the biggest challenges we will face as a society in 2021 and beyond.”

Peter Fonagy, Chief Executive of the Anna Freud Centre, says: “I am delighted to see the amazing support of drummers from around the world join forces for DrumathonLIVE 2021 to support mental health charities at such a crucial time.”

DrumathonLIVE began last year where they raised funds for the NHS during the first lockdown of the COVID-19 pandemic. On 7 April 2020, Errol Kennedy drummed non-stop for 24 hours to raise money and awareness for the NHS. They then inspired a further twenty internationally renowned drummers to pick up the batons on 7 May and play a non-stop drumming relay that lasted 10 days clocking up over 250 hours. This resulted in more than £45,000 being raised for NHS charities.

Visit www.drumathon.live for more information and to donate.