Buskers raise a whopping £100,000 for cancer charity

Loose Change Buskers reached their fundraising target at Wilmslow Artisan Market last weekend.

The groups of friends who started busking in 2011 reached their target of £100,000 on Sunday, 16th December, every penny of which will go to Cancer Research UK.

For the past two years the musicians have entertained the crowds of shoppers at Wilmslow Artisan Market, adding to the atmosphere whilst having a great time.

John Foge said "Thanks must go to all the kind and generous people of Wilmslow who have made this possible. Also special thanks to Denise and Victoria, who run the Artisan market, for all their support over the last two years and have worked so hard to make this event such a success."

The friends from a south Manchester music club took part in a Cancer Research National Busking Week in 2010, hoping to raise a few hundreds pounds for charity as a one off whilst busking in a shopping centre in Altrincham. Having thoroughly enjoyed themselves whilst raising £1000 for the charity they decided they must continue busking.

In 2011 they became better organised, named themselves Loose Change (because all the money they collected was from the pockets of the public) and to their amazement by the end of the year they had raised several thousand pounds.

Group leader Bernard said "In 2012 we hoped to raise £10,000, as we thought this was a realistic target. Little did we know how it was going to snowball. We really got going, we were everywhere, Altrincham Centre, Altrincham Market, Urmston, Knutsford and Wilmslow Artisan Market and towards the end of the year Tesco, in Altrincham and Cheadle. In that year we raised over £42,000 bringing our total just over £50,000.

He added "The success of Loose Change as always been about the generosity of the public in responding to Cancer Research UK and the time given by our musicians, none of whom receive one penny of payment for their time or expenses."

Loose Change is a hard core of six musicians, who always turn out. They are supported by a great team of a further 15 musicians who turn up periodically. They have banjos, accordion, beat box and congas, guitars and sometimes keyboards.

This year they will have played at over one hundred venues, entertaining thousands and encouraging members of the public to join in with them, especially the children who are provided with shakers and tambourines.