VYG singers in university gospel concert
Released: 01.06.06

 

 

The Finsbury Park Boys, a group of singers from the Victory Youth Group at the UCKG HelpCentre in Seven Sisters Road, were among the performers at a recent charity concert in aid of the Sickle Cell Society.

The concert was arranged by the African Caribbean Society (ACS) at Thames Valley University in order to raise money for the UK's leading charity for sufferers from a range of sickle cell disorders (SCD). These are inherited conditions, linked to the shape of the individual's red blood cells. In Britain SCD is most common among people of African and Caribbean descent.

Speaking on behalf of the Finsbury Park Boys, George Boateng said: “The Thames Valley University gig was a great opportunity for us, for two very good reasons. Firstly, we were delighted to be invited share our style of gospel music with young Christians and non-Christians from a number of universities.

“Secondly, as members of a church with many African and African-Caribbean followers, it was good to be helping the Sickle Cell Society. We know that SCD is not well understood in Britain. This must change so sufferers get the quality care they need. Raising money to educate health carers and other professionals about this condition will make a difference.”

People with the less-flexible sickle cells in their blood instead of normal rounded red cells can suffer bouts of intense pain, damage to such organs as the liver, kidneys, lungs, hear and spleen and sometimes a reduced lifespan. While this does not prevent them from leading normal lives, they need specialist medical attention, particularly in the context of pregnancies, dentistry and operations.

In is estimated that at least one in 10 - 40 Britons of African and African-Caribbean descent have sickle cell trait and one in up to 200 are SCD sufferers. That means there are over 6,000 adults and children in this country with the condition at the present time.

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Note to editors: The Universal Church of the Kingdom of God (UCKG) was formed in 1977, in Brazil. It is an international Pentecostal church, active in over 100 countries. UCKG was established in the UK in 1995 and is a registered charity. Its HelpCentres are Christian spiritual centres that also offer practical help through youth and seniors groups, training and welfare initiatives. Its UK headquarters are at Finsbury Park in North London.