Tina Filippino and Kel Kelly have teamed up to play a community fundraising concert Nov. 3 at the Little Red Church Theatre in Comox at 7 p.m.
All proceeds from the show will go to the Lani Alton Society. Lani has been living with cerebral palsy since birth.
Now in her mid-20s, she has attained many of her goals toward living independently. She shares a house with a roommate, and has most of her needs met by a wonderful, committed and caring staff.
Sadly, funding for people in Lani's situation does not extend to other very important service needs. Things like chiropractic care, massage therapy, physiotherapy and counselling are not funded by the government.
Funding for these services is now the responsibility of the board of the Lani Alton Society, a group of volunteers who take the lead in securing these services.
Proceeds from the Nov. 3 concert will go a long way toward helping to provide these essential services to Lani over the coming year.
Many people in the Comox Valley know Tina Filippino as the song leader of the Letz Sing Community Choir.
Practising her belief that absolutely everybody can sing, Tina has been teaching hundreds of people, many of whom have never sung before, how to find and celebrate their voice. Her three choruses now comprise over 150 singers.
What many do not know is that Tina is also an excellent songwriter, with themes ranging from songs of inspiration and hope to the mundane challenges of surviving life with kids.
Kel Kelly is most known for his political and community activism, but has taken up music with more commitment over the last few years. His repertoire of original songs runs the range from being caught in the crossfire of insurrection in Assam, to tucking his grandchildren to sleep at night.
"It's our hope that we can pack the Little Red Church," says Kelly. "Along with the admission of $10, we're inviting people to bring their open hearts, along with their chequebooks or cash.
"This evening is going to be a pile of fun," says Kelly. "Tina and I have been really enjoying putting our voices and hearts together for this. Along with our own songs, we're going to be involving the audience a lot, to help us out."
The Concert for Lani begins at 7 p.m. on Nov. 3 at the Little Red Church Theatre across Comox Avenue from St. Joseph's general Hospital.
For more information, contact Kel Kelly at 250-337-8348 or kelkelly55@yahoo.ca.
— Tina Filippino