Jamaica Cancer Society gets donations from music students

The students of music who recently participated the inaugural Practice-A-Thon Jamaica, an initiative launched by the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM), have come out in support of the Jamaica Cancer Society.

Musical talents from students as young as seven years of age were on display, and these students were encouraged to become more disciplined in practising for their examinations while raising funds to benefit young people faced with cancer.

The initiative raised J$361,000 for the Jamaica Cancer Society's youth programme. Each year during the month of February, the society focuses on educating students across the island on the benefits of engaging in healthy lifestyle practices to minimise their risk to cancer, with a special focus on the dangers of tobacco use, and so it was ideal that the Practice-a-thon be held in the month of February .

Kathryn Lawson, representative for the ABRSM in Jamaica, was lauded for her commitment and dedication to developing the musical abilities of Jamaican students.

Lawson said, "This has been a win-win event. ... The students who participated have become more disciplined in their approach to practising their instrument(s), they have excelled in their exams because of the consistency of their practice and become better all-round musicians, while being sensitised to the needs of others and contributing to a very worthwhile cause."

Yulit Gordon, executive director of the Jamaica Cancer Society, was very pleased with the results of the Practice-A-Thon.

"The experience of having the students apply themselves to the art of practising for their exams, while at the same time developing a spirit of volunteerism and making a difference in the lives of other young people, is absolutely awesome. NGOs like the Jamaica Cancer Society are built on the shoulders of volunteerism; they enable us to increase our capacity to achieve more. We are encouraged when young people like these musicians use their talents to fight cancer among their peers, it is humbling," said Gordon.