Dementia Foundation for Spark of Life and ALS Awareness Fundraiser concert with the Commonwealth Resounds

To celebrate the International Day of Older Persons and the International Day of Music, we are delighted to partner with CommonAge to create a special concert to help raise funds for the Dementia Foundation for Spark of Life and research into ALS a form of Motor Neurone Disease (MND). Performers from each Commonwealth Region have given their time to put this event together.

We are delighted to support both these charities. The Dementia Foundation for Spark of Life aims to humanise care for people with dementia. They create a culture where people with dementia feel valued, loved and supported.

Join us on Sunday 1st October, for the launch this special concert.

It is free to watch for all. In return, we ask that you consider making a donation to these brilliant charities using our link here.

Donate now

Introduced by Jane Seymour OBE

Global Ambassador for Dementia Foundation for Spark of Life

Jane starred in the film Ruby’s Choice. It tells the story of Ruby, a woman living alone with early dementia and its impact on her and her family when she moves in to live with them.

This ground-breaking film received the award for Best Picture from the Australian Screen Industry Network for 2022. Just recently, the film received two prestigious awards at the 2023 Burbank Film Festival for best feature film and best foreign feature film.

In addition Jane Seymour was honoured with the award for Best Actress for her outstanding authentic and perception-shifting portrayal of Ruby.

Dementia Foundation for Spark of Life was the charity associated with Ruby’s Choice and supported its production with advice about dementia.

Headlined by international renowned Heerraa Ravindran

Award-winning singer-songwriter from Malaysia.

Heerraa is a voting Member of the esteemed Recording Academy (GRAMMYs®). With a powerful and dynamic musical style, Heerraa has garnered widespread acclaim for her soul-stirring performances and profound songwriting.

Having toured new music in the US, Heerraa has performed in Nashville, Atlanta, New York, New Jersey, Philadelphia, and Boston.

Named one of Prestige Malaysia’s 40 Under 40 for the most successful, innovative, and influential young people, Heerraa’s repertoire includes her song, “The Girl Who Loved”, which was featured on Simulacra 2’s Original Game Soundtrack, as well as receiving the Best in North America (Pop) Award for her song, “Feel Alive”, & ICON Award at the InterContinental Music Awards 2022 in Los Angeles.

Concert Programme

Introduced by:
Jane Seymour OBE

Speaker:
Dr Vivienne Cox,
63-year-old bio scientist and amateur singer explains how her life has changed since her recent ALS diagnosis.

Speaker:
Nilanjana Maulik,
Secretary General, Alzheimer’s and Related Disorder Society of India, Calcutta Chapter, Spark of Life Master Practitioner and CommonAge Fellow, explains how the Dementia Foundation for Spark of Life has changed lives in India. It includes a beautiful musical rendition of a poem written by Tagore, a Nobel Prize for Literature winner.

Performer:
Heerraa Ravindran, from Malaysia.

Performer:
The Joy Gospel Singers, from Malta.

Performer:
Devon Packer, from Canada.

Performer:
The Phoenix Collective, from Australia.

Speakers:
Richard Semanda, Founder, Geriatric Respite Care Foundation, Uganda, Spark of Life Master Practitioner and CommonAge Ambassador
Jesca Nakibirango, Founder of Rise and Shine Dyslexic Organisation, Uganda and Spark of Life Master Practitioner explains how the Dementia Foundation for Spark of Life has changed lives in Uganda.

Performer:
The Pan African Choir ‘Malaika’, from Uganda.

Raising funds for Charity

While the concert is free to watch, we invite you to make a donation, which will be split between our two chosen charities, Dementia Foundation for Spark of Life an independent Australian-based charity supporting leaders around the Commonwealth, and the world to provide excellence in dementia care, and Music for ALS, which will fund research into Motor Neurone Disease (MND).