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It seems that Hampton-born opera singer Kathryn
Harries has no sooner finished one mammoth charity walks, than she is
planning another.
A female version of Ian Botham, for the last 30
years whenever the world famous soprano has not been signing she has been
walking for good causes, raising more than £700,000 along the way.
Earlier this year she undertook an Opera Walk of
640-miles from London, through Cardiff and up to Leeds, which raised £40,000
for the English National Opera and Welsh National Opera Benevolent Funds.
Harries sang in nine Opera Walk concerts along the
way, the first of which was in May with Thames Philharmonic Choir at Cadogan
Hall.
The 55 year-old singer has now come full circle
and will again be performing with TPC at The Barn Church in Kew on Saturday,
July 15.
The audience can make a late donation to the Opera
Walk fund, although Harries may be gearing up for a new expedition by then.
"I already know which charity I want to raise
money for next, I just don't know what form that will take," said Harries.
"Just a couple of weeks ago I was put in touch
with a new Epsom-based charity called CRY - Cardiac Risk in the Young.
"I met the organiser Alison Cox at a function and
agreed to become a patron, joining Ian Botham, Sir Steven Redgrave and David
Walliams, who was at the function the day after he completed his
cross-Channel swim.
"It is scary just how many young people with
undetected heart conditions die suddenly, without any warning. The aim
of the charity is to cut down on these unnecessary deaths by introducing
screening on the NHS.
"Almost 100 MPs have already signed up to the
motion, but we re looking to get cross-party support."
Before the former presenter of BBC's Music Time
gets started on her next project, she will be performing with TPC in a
varied programme that will include operatic favourites, some beautiful
cathedral music and songs from the shows. The concert will be
conducted by John Bate, with accompaniment from Jason Edge on organ and
Reger Beeson on piano.
Summer at the Barn, Thames Philharmonic Choir, The
Barn Church, Atwood Avenue, Kew, July 15, 7.30pm, tickets from £8 - £12.
Call 020 8998 3529 or visit thamesphilchoir.org.uk
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