Once in a while you run into a bunch of people that are uniquely compassionate and completely selfless. (Not so easy to find in cyberspace!). The Duchenne Foundation has struck an unlikely partnership with “Ukulele Underground“, an online forum for ukulele enthusiasts, with a membership of over 18,000. The members, led by forum moderator and Chicago musician Narciso “Seeso” Lobo, after some online discussion, have agreed to compile a CD to help raise funds for the Duchenne Foundation. The CD will be launched during the Cairns Ukulele Festival mid next year.
The partnership however unusual on the face of it, is to the members of “Ukulele Underground“, obvious. Recently, the forum lost a much loved member, Vincent Rooney, or, Captain Google (“CG“), to Duchenne muscular dystrophy. This came as a shock as nobody on the forum was aware that “CG” was suffering from this, and as Vincent was only 19 years old. The members of the forum decided to record a version of Somewhere over the Rainbow for viewing on YouTube, as a tribute to “CG“. Videos of uke players poured in from all over the world, which were edited by Narciso Lobo to form a seamless clip of all the players one after the other, performing a very emotional version of the famous tune.
When Cairns Ukulele Festival organiser Gaby Thomasz noticed the posts about the video on Ukulele Underground, she forwarded them to Deborah Robins, North Queensland director of the Duchenne Foundation in Australia. The two are working on a uke art exhibition which is part of next year’s ukulele festival. The exhibition will feature decorated ukuleles, hosted at the Cairns Regional Gallery. The primary benefactor of the exhibition and sale of the ukuleles afterwards, will be the Duchenne Foundation.
Recently, Deborah contacted Narciso Lobo to find out if the forum members would be interested in organising something as a contribution to the exhibition. Things snowballed from there…A CD is now in the making, featuring artists from all over the world. This CD will be launched at the Cairns Ukulele Festival’s art exhibition, and then, distributed world wide so that all international chapters of the “Duchenne Foundation United Parent Projects Muscular Dystrophy” can benefit from the project.
Formerly Parent Project Australia Inc, the Duchenne Foundation was incorporated 2003 to work together to improve the lives of persons and families affected by Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy. Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is the most common form of muscular dystrophy affecting 1 in 3,500 males. Muscles affected are those around the hips and upper thighs. Weakness gradually progresses to include all skeletal muscles, the muscles of respiration and the heart. To continue research, the Duchenne Foundation works tirelessly on lifting its profile and raising funds. It is delighted with the prospect of the CD, which will enable the foundation to continuously raise funds.
If you wish to contribute to the Foundation, please visit www.blueball.org.au. If you wish to contribute to the art exhibition by painting a ukulele, click above in the menu on the relevant link.
Media contact: Gaby Thomasz, ph 0405619026
