4BR met up with the National blood cancer charity DKMS at the North West Regional Championships to find out more about their work and the way in which the brass band movement has become involved in offering its support through a 'Swab for Sykes' campaign.

Swab for Sykes

Leading the way has been the well known trombone player and conductor Kevin Holdgate, and he told 4BR that he was delighted that things have got off to such a great start in Blackpool.

"This was the first area contest and the first opportunity for the 'Swab for Sykes' campaign in support of the seriously ill trombone star Stephen Sykes,"he said.

"My thanks go to Peter Bates and his team of volunteers from the North West Area for allowing us to have a prime position outside the trade stand area, and we were delighted that DKMS national co-ordinator Lisa Nugent and her fellow volunteers registered no less than 64 people."

Save lives

Kevin added: "We also found out that many more had already signed up and had sent off their swabs, and with an age range of 18-55 is shows that just five minutes of even a busy bandperson's life can help save lives

All we ask people is to consider that if they had a brother or sister who had a life threatening illness and needed help would you be too busy?

Stephen Sykes, and thousands like him need your help. Stephen is a brother musician and a member of one of the great brass band families. So please help."

the DKMS Charity will be at the Yorkshire Regional Championships in Huddersfield, so please go along and see if you can spare just 5 minutes of your time. You won't feel any better about yourselves even if your band wins a Yorkshire title!4BR

Register

You can still register online at DKMS at: https://www.dkms.org.uk/en

In Yorkshire

Over the next weekend the DKMS Charity will be at the Yorkshire Regional Championships in Huddersfield, so please go along and see if you can spare just 5 minutes of your time.

You won't feel any better about yourselves even if your band wins a Yorkshire title!!