Charity passion of Musical Friends

Musical Friends... (l-r) Tom Dunster, Jayne Collins, nicola Mead, Paul Osbaldiston and Lindsay Collins.

MUSICAL merriment from a group of talented fundraisers has prompted fans to nominate them for a Pride in Oldham award.

The Oldham-based Musical Friends perform concerts for charities, with every penny going towards good causes.

The group regularly raises around £1,000 for their chosen charity, and has successfully raised more than £118,000 over eight years.

Their good work prompted Brenda Heath, from Diggle, to nominate them.

She said: “They are so good and do so much work for charity its amazing.

“They give every penny they get to charity which is absolutely fantastic.”

Michelle Stewart (54), from Mossley, also put pen to paper and said: “They are booked solid.

“A friend of mine booked them to help raise charity funds and they even printed off their own leaflets for the event.

“Usually, someone wants something for nothing or to further their own use, but the group is freely giving up its time for no gain. Everyone loves them; they definitely deserve a nomination.”

Paul Osbaldiston (45), from Watersheddings, is the main organiser and said the group survives through the passion and hard work of their 14 singers, three musicians and five organisers.

A one-off annual concert, along with donations, helps the group purchase items such as headsets and microphones, and insurance.

He said: “I’ve raised money for charity all through my life and the people who join Musical Friends are passionate about that as well as singing.

“It’s raising money by doing something you love.

“We’re absolutely thrilled to be nominated, it’s nice to get recognition.”

Musical Friends previously made it to the Pride in Oldham awards gala luncheon as a finalist in the readers’ award section in 2004 but did not make into onto the judges’ shortlist.

Second-time lucky, maybe!