This World Alzheimer's Month, We've Joined Forces With Rock Choir To Launch An Inspirational Song!
THIS WORLD ALZHEIMER’S MONTH 2024, LOCAL CHARITY DEMENTIA NI HAS JOINED FORCES WITH ROCK CHOIR TO LAUNCH AN INSPIRATIONAL SONG
Local charity Dementia NI has teamed up with award-winning contemporary choir Rock Choir, to launch a heartfelt song that aims to highlight the power of community, peer support and music in helping people to live well with dementia, and to raise vital funds to support the work of Dementia NI.
The song is a very special cover version of the Miley Cyrus hit The Climb, featuring the voices of 13 Dementia NI members from across Northern Ireland and local Rock Choir members. It launched on Monday 23rd September, just days after World Alzheimer’s Day on 21st September. Everyone is encouraged to share the song on Facebook and donate, with all proceeds going towards Dementia NI to help local people with dementia to live well and drive positive change in the community.
There is also a captivating video, filmed during recording of the song at the Belfast campus of Ulster University and starring Dementia NI members and Rock Choir members performing alongside Rock Choir Leader Rachel Coulter. Interviews with Dementia NI members challenge common misconceptions as they tell their own personal stories of their diagnosis and share what it’s like to live with dementia.
Please take a moment to watch the song and video above then donate to Dementia NI via our dedicated Just Giving page here: www.justgiving.com/page/dementia-ni
Your contribution helps empower individuals with dementia and ensures their voices are heard.
Dementia NI Member Martin Murtagh, 73, from Belfast, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease aged 63, said, “I’m extremely proud of The Climb! I was nervous to begin with, but there was a very supportive vibe between Dementia NI members and Rock Choir members. I felt part of something special and it gave me a great thrill to be involved. Some people think that because you’ve got dementia you haven’t got a voice. We, the Dementia NI members, are proving that we have got a voice and can take part in things and speak for ourselves.”
Dementia NI Member Allison Batchelor, 64, from Belfast, who is living with Alzheimer’s disease, said: “I loved working with Rock Choir on this amazing song. The social side of the project was fantastic. Being part of a choir featuring people with and without dementia, all joining in together, felt good. I hope this shows that with the right support, people with dementia can be included in all sorts of groups and activities. I also think the message of The Climb is very relevant for people with a diagnosis as it’s about realising that life won’t be an easy or smooth road, but you’ll get to the top if you keep going.”
Rock Choir Leader, Rachel Coulter, said: "I am immensely proud to have been involved with this collaborative project between Rock Choir and Dementia NI. Dementia is a condition that impacts so many people's lives, including members of my own family. Those affected can feel disconnected and unseen. Music has an ability to connect and unite people and this is especially powerful when individuals are feeling isolated and vulnerable. Watching the Rock Choir members and Dementia NI members work collectively as a team and grow in confidence as the workshops progressed was one of the most humbling experiences of my career. It was moving beyond words and I'm extremely grateful to the energy and effort that every single person contributed to making the project such a success".
Dementia NI Head of Engagement, Karen Kerr, said: “I’d like to say a huge thank you to the entire Rock Choir team for working with us to create this fantastic version of The Climb. And special credit must go to every Dementia NI member who worked hard to bring the song and video to life. This World Alzheimer’s Month, we hope that The Climb not only raises funds for Dementia NI but demonstrates that with support, people with dementia can continue to enjoy group activities and stay connected to their community, which can help to improve their quality of life. Dementia NI has 15 Empowerment Groups across Northern Ireland supporting local people with dementia to live well. To help us raise vital funds and continue to support local people with dementia to live life to its full potential, you can share The Climb on Facebook at www.facebook.com/DementiaNI and there’s also a dedicated Just Giving page for donations at www.justgiving.com/page/dementia-ni. All proceeds will go to Dementia NI and all money raised will stay local.”
'THE CLIMB' – lyrics
Verse 1
I can almost see it
That dream I'm dreaming
But there's a voice inside my head saying
You'll never reach it
Every step I'm taking
Every move I make feels
Lost with no direction
My faith is shaking
Pre-Chorus
But I, I gotta keep trying
Gotta keep my head held high
Chorus
There's always gonna be another mountain
I'm always gonna wanna make it move
Always gonna be an uphill battle
Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose
Ain't about how fast I get there
Ain't about what's waiting on the other side
It's the climb
Verse 2
The struggles I'm facing
The chances I'm taking
Sometimes might knock me down, but
No, I'm not breaking
I may not know it
But these are the moments, that
I'm gonna remember most, yeah
Just gotta keep going
Pre-Chorus
And I, I gotta be strong
Just keep pushing on, 'cause
Chorus
There's always gonna be another mountain
I'm always gonna wanna make it move
Always gonna be an uphill battle
Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose
Ain't about how fast I get there
Ain't about what's waiting on the other side
It's the climb
Yeah
There's always gonna be another mountain
I'm always gonna wanna make it move
Always gonna be an uphill battle
Sometimes you're gonna have to lose
Ain't about how fast I get there
Ain't about what's waiting on the other side
It's the climb
Yeah, yeah
Outro
Keep on moving, keep climbing
Keep the faith, baby
It's all about, it's all about the climb
Keep your faith, keep your faith
Whoa