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Don Airey supports British hospital
Don Airey has donated £83,100 (approx. $129,000 or €114,500) to the children’s ward at the Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge News reports. He visited the ward, presented the cheque, spoke to the patients and even played some keyboards with them.
Don raised the money over more than two decades by playing charity gigs, including the annual Gransden Blues and Soul, which he has been organising since 1993. About 1,000 people attended this year’s concert on June 27 which raised £6,000 on this occasion alone.
Don’s son has received treatment for a serious illness at the hospital in 1992.
When I was a regular visitor to the children’s wards they were a real oasis of compassion when life was hard for our family. Addenbrooke’s was such a help to us. We’re forever grateful. I will keep supporting as best I can.
Addenbrooke’s is one of the leading hospitals in the UK and is a teaching hospital affiliated with the University of Cambridge. The donation could not have come at a better time, as the hospital has fallen on financial hardship recently, projecting a £64 million deficit in 2015-16, and was placed in “special measures” administration.
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Congratulations Don! You deserve all the success in your career.
September 22nd, 2015 at 19:06Blimey! Fair play.
September 22nd, 2015 at 19:14A wonderful man 🙂
September 22nd, 2015 at 19:34Such a gentleman AND a nice person !
September 22nd, 2015 at 19:39Great ??
September 22nd, 2015 at 19:45Don Airey, a real class act!
September 22nd, 2015 at 20:09Great
September 22nd, 2015 at 20:25Hero!
September 22nd, 2015 at 20:32Well done Don!
September 22nd, 2015 at 20:57I was fortunate enough to meet Don twice on Deep Purple’s last US tour. I’ll never forget the time at the Bergen PAC in Englewood. When he arrive I asked him if he could sign my copy of Now What that I had brought with me. He said I just need to go inside for about ten minutes and I’ll be back out. He was with Ian Paice at the time. I could hear them playing Uncommon Man from outside the venue. Sure enough a man of his word he came back out about ten minutes later and Paice was with him. They both signed my album and took pictures with me. We had a great conversation about set lists and songs we would like to see them play in the future. Both guys were really great. They easily could have not come out but I’m so glad they did. I can only hope that the band stays healthy and continues to tour for as many years as possible. Thanks Don! I will always remember that night. By the way the show was great but that!s not really anything new, there always great!
September 22nd, 2015 at 21:48What a lovely gesture
September 22nd, 2015 at 23:12Don your a great musician and a great person.A lot of people will benefit from Dons generosity.
September 22nd, 2015 at 23:14What a lovely,compassionate and utterly self-less gesture.
September 23rd, 2015 at 00:42Good on you,Don !!
Truly a great person!
September 23rd, 2015 at 01:02Fantastic Don!!!
September 23rd, 2015 at 01:03Now THAT is cool.
September 23rd, 2015 at 01:30À écouter en premier
September 23rd, 2015 at 04:47Great Stuff Don!!
September 23rd, 2015 at 09:26Marvelous Cause!! Great work Don!!
September 23rd, 2015 at 11:18Thank you Don!
September 23rd, 2015 at 13:48Like it! 🙂
September 23rd, 2015 at 16:48A wonderful unselfish gesture. Great man , great musician. Respect to you Don.
September 24th, 2015 at 06:36What is not mentioned is that is just a small fraction of the money that don has donated to various charities over the years through his annual (dependant on touring) Blues and soul event. Its only a small gig in a small village, but over the years Ian Paice, Graham Bonnet, Thunder, Neil Murray and many many more have played. This year over £21000 was raised for various causes
September 24th, 2015 at 15:07Artist and Gentelman!
September 25th, 2015 at 08:45Wow, that’s great :-)!
September 25th, 2015 at 11:26What a nice classy gesture from this up and coming young keyboard player. More power to you Don!
September 25th, 2015 at 12:46Yes , money like that can really make difference in some families life at a very difficult time . GOOD FOR YOU DON !
October 9th, 2015 at 23:57