“This is just the first phase,” Danu Innasithamby explains describing the concert he is organising next weekend. An extravaganza of music, ‘Love Changes Everything’ will raise funds to hold a carnival of sorts for children at the Cancer Hospital in Maharagama. To Danu, well-known radio and TV personality that’s what really matters, and he hopes he can raise enough funds to provide the children with an unforgettable day.
Danu’s mother being a patient at the hospital he used to visit the premises frequently and he says that walking through the wards his heart went out to the young patients there. Practically living in the wards, Danu says that for weeks or even months all these children know of is their lives as patients; deprived of a childhood full of fun and frolic that all children deserve.
“I want to spoil them rotten,” shares Danu. “I want to give them a fun day, like a carnival but in keeping with their health needs of course.” Some of them are confined to their beds and unable to take part in particular activities depending on the severity of their cancer.
The fundraising concert titled ‘Love Changes Everything’- which was his mother’s favourite song, will in fact be held in memory of his mother. “She was my biggest fan; she was my everything. Me, my sis and mum were a unit. She was diagnosed with cancer and she passed away in just three weeks.
Love Changes Everything was a song she loved. She heard me sing it when I was 12 and she said to me, ‘When I die, sing it at the funeral’. On the day of her funeral I was in no state to sing but many of my friends from Soul Sounds and from my school sang and gave her a fitting farewell,” says Danu.
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| Danu’s mother Jovitha Innasithamby |
For the concert however, Danu will be singing Love Changes Everything along with all the other performers, fulfilling his mother’s request. The concert will feature many of Sri Lanka’s best musicians and choral groups.
The line-up includes Ashanthi, Shehara (Shey), Natasha, Shanelle, Antoinette de Alwis, Mariazelle, Billy Fernando, Ricky Bahar and Rukshan Perera to name a few. There will also be duets featuring the De Lanerolle Brothers and the sister combo Umara & Umaria.
Danu is grateful to the performers for their ready assistance and Soundarie David for her support. Love Changes Everything will be held at the Bishop’s College Auditorium on February 10 and 11 at 7.30 p.m. Tickets are now available at the Bishop’s College Auditorium.
A tad nervous about organising his first concert, but with the backing of a line up of stellar performers Danu feels he has little to worry about. “I want to put a smile on the children’s faces by giving them a fun day.
All thanks to these wonderful talented people my performers are; the ones who will make this happen.” |
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