It seems that Hampton-born opera singer Kathryn Harries has no sooner finished one mammoth charity walks, than she is planning another.
A female version of Ian Botham, for the last 30 years whenever the world famous soprano has not been signing she has been walking for good causes, raising more than £700,000 along the way.
Earlier this year she undertook an Opera Walk of 640-miles from London, through Cardiff and up to Leeds, which raised £40,000 for the English National Opera and Welsh National Opera Benevolent Funds.
Harries sang in nine Opera Walk concerts along the way, the first of which was in May with Thames Philharmonic Choir at Cadogan Hall.
The 55 year-old singer has now come full circle and will again be performing with TPC at The Barn Church in Kew on Saturday, July 15.
The audience can make a late donation to the Opera Walk fund, although Harries may be gearing up for a new expedition by then.
“I already know which charity I want to raise money for next, I just don’t know what form that will take,” said Harries.
“Just a couple of weeks ago I was put in touch with a new Epsom-based charity called CRY – Cardiac Risk in the Young.
“I met the organiser Alison Cox at a function and agreed to become a patron, joining Ian Botham, Sir Steven Redgrave and David Walliams, who was at the function the day after he completed his cross-Channel swim.
“It is scary just how many young people with undetected heart conditions die suddenly, without any warning. The aim of the charity is to cut down on these unnecessary deaths by introducing screening on the NHS.
“Almost 100 MPs have already signed up to the motion, but we re looking to get cross-party support.”
Before the former presenter of BBC’s Music Time gets started on her next project, she will be performing with TPC in a varied programme that will include operatic favourites, some beautiful cathedral music and songs from the shows. The concert will be conducted by John Bate, with accompaniment from Jason Edge on organ and Reger Beeson on piano.
Summer at the Barn, Thames Philharmonic Choir, The Barn Church, Atwood Avenue, Kew, July 15, 7.30pm, tickets from £8 – £12. Call 020 8998 3529 or visit thamesphilchoir.org.uk
