Ian Tomlinson, a 65-year-old church organist from Bulkington, near Devizes, is tackling an extraordinary 18-hour marathon recital to raise money for charity and awareness about prostate cancer.
Recently diagnosed with stage one prostate cancer, Tomlinson aims to play all 571 hymns from the Church of England hymn book in a non-stop session at Christ Church.
Beginning his musical challenge at 06:00 BST, he plans to continue until midnight, performing back-to-back hymns with hopes of raising £500 for Prostate Cancer UK.
Tomlinson, who has never attempted such a lengthy performance before, acknowledges the physical demands of the challenge.
“It’s going to be severely challenging,” he shared, adding that he plans to alternate between hands and use his feet to ease the strain.
His diagnosis in March pushed him to undertake this challenge, turning a difficult time into something positive.
“It was quite a concerning time, and I was looking to do something uplifting from something that is dispiriting,” he explained.
His efforts aim to encourage men to openly discuss prostate cancer, breaking the stigma around the disease.
“Men tend not to talk about it… but it’s fine, and it will be OK in the end,” he emphasized.
In addition to supporting Prostate Cancer UK, Tomlinson’s recital will help raise funds for his local church.
Visitors are encouraged to participate in the marathon by singing along, playing percussion instruments, or simply exercising their voices.
A GoFundMe page has also been set up to support the cause.
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