Concert for cancer care

A UNIQUE cohort of avid musicians, who also happen to be cancer specialists, will come together on Saturday 16 November at St Paul’s Cathedral to demonstrate the therapeutic power of music.

Funds raised at the Medical Maestros and Friends concert will go towards supporting the Cancer Wellness Program at Bendigo Health.

Cellist, pianist and classical singer Dr Rob Blum is a co-organiser of the concert and clinical director of the Bendigo Health Oncology Unit and Loddon Mallee Integrated Cancer Services.

“The idea of Medical Maestros is that there’s a number of clinicians who use music as their own therapy, and we thought it would be a fun idea to get some of them together for a concert to generate money for the wellness of their patients,” he said.

“Having the community attend the concert is important because it’s ultimately supporting both the people that look after the patients, but also it’s about looking after the patients that come through our centre.

“I think the work that Bendigo Health does, particularly in the wellness area, supported by the Foundation and our philanthropic companies is world class and the community’s support would be greatly appreciated.”

The Wellness Program is available to all cancer patients in the Loddon Mallee region from the time they commence anti-cancer therapy until 12 months after treatment completion.

It offers yoga, meditation, hypnotherapy, oncology massage, pet therapy, reflexology, music therapy and regular Look Good Feel Better workshops, and is based primarily at the Gobbé Wellness Centre, located within the Bendigo Health Barnard Street precinct.

As program coordinator and oncology nurse Jenna Sing explained, the program is fully funded by donations from the community and is available to anyone from around the region. “The care that’s provided is anything that’s outside of the medical model that we don’t supply within the government funding, which you’ll still be able to get here whether you’re a cancer patient of Bendigo Health, St John of God, or receiving treatment in Melbourne,” she said.

Medical Maestros and Friends takes place at St Paul’s Cathedral in Myers Street on Saturday 16 November from 7.30pm. Tickets can be purchased via Gotix.