Truro Cathedral Choir’s has tripled it UNICEF Crowdfunder target to help the children of Ukraine in just eight weeks.

Members of Truro Cathedral Choir have raised £10,244 for UNICEF’s Ukraine appeal in just eight weeks. After smashing their original £3,000 target within days of the launch, the choir, which includes 34 children and 12 adults, has gone on to more than triple its original target. The appeal will remain open until May 24th to gather final donations: https://bit.ly/choristers4Ukraine.

Within ten days of the outbreak of war, the choir decided to launch its Crowdfunder and to learn an anthem in Ukrainian to support their fundraising and bring them closer to the people of Ukraine. The choir’s moving rendition of ‘Ave Maria’, by contemporary composer Valentin Silvestrov, was released on Mother’s Day and has since been viewed nearly 3,500 times on YouTube.

The Crowdfunder, in aid of Unicef’s emergency appeal, ‘Protect Children in Ukraine’, was inspired by young choristers who wanted to use their talents to help their peers caught up in the war. UNICEF reports that since the war began, one child per second has become a refugee and the BBC’s Chief International Correspondent, Lyse Doucet, reporting from the Donbas region, recently described the situation there as, ‘A war on children.’

Truro Cathedral Choir includes 34 choristers, with boys aged 8-13 and girls 13-18, some of whom gave their pocket money to the appeal. Six of the oldest boys and youngest girls marked the fundraising milestone with a photo and gave their reactions:

“It is such brilliant news that singing this beautiful song has raised over £10,000 to help children who are affected by this terrible war. A massive thank you to everybody that has listened to and supported the song so generously. I just wish every day that this awful war would end, ” Lawrence, 13, Head Chorister.

“When we started this appeal by recording the song, I really hoped that we would reach our target of £3000. To raise £10,000 is absolutely unbelievable. I’d like to thank everyone who helped us raise so much. I’m proud to know that our efforts here in Cornwall will have helped those suffering in Ukraine.” said Josh, 13, head chorister.

“I had no idea that we would raise so much money and I feel really proud to have played a part in this important appeal.” said Elsie, 14, Chorister.

Tanya Huhnina, a Ukrainian refugee from Cherkasy, who has recently resettled in Cornwall, was, by chance, visiting the cathedral on the night of March 21, just as the choir was recording ‘Ave Maria’ in Ukrainian.

Tanya and her 12 year old son, Akim, who had joined family in Cornwall just ten days before, were greatly moved to hear the choir singing in their mother tongue and to witness the start of the fundraiser, saying at the time, ‘God has brought us here tonight.'

Hearing this week of the £10,000 total raised by the singers, Tanya said, “I would like to express my gratitude to everyone who is helping Ukraine and Ukrainian people now. My grandmother, who survived the Holodomor and the Second World War, always said, “By helping other people, help yourself. And if you can help, then help the person. Only by doing good to others do we sow good in our own soul.

"When by their example adults teach children to help, sympathise and love life and people, then there is future in humanity. All Ukrainian people and our government is grateful to Great Britain and its ordinary people who opened their hearts to us Ukrainians in such a difficult time.”

Steven Webb, Mayor of Truro who was present when the choir recorded the anthem in Ukrainian said, ‘It's amazing in the most difficult circumstances when people come together to help others in need. I want to thank all those involved and particularly the young choristers for making a huge difference to those suffering in Ukraine.’

The choristers are no strangers to Crowdfunding. Last year they raised over £8,000 for UNICEF’s VaccinAid appeal as part of their very popular Sing2G7 programme. The UNICEF Ukraine Crowdfunder is co-led by the same team, Director of Music, Christopher Gray and Charity Campaigner and chorister parent, Esmé Page.