Arctic Monkeys back Sheffield Cystic Fibrosis Appeal
22nd March 2010
Sheffield superstars the Arctic Monkeys made a special trip home this week to throw their support behind the recently launched £1m Sheffield Cystic Fibrosis Appeal.
The High Green heroes took time out from their current world tour to call at the Northern General Hospital on Thursday (11 March), visiting some of the young Cystic Fibrosis patients being treated there and making a very special donation to the appeal.
Bass player Nick O’Malley and drummer Matt Helders presented Sheffield Hospitals Charitable Trust with a bass guitar used at their recent gigs in the United States, Europe and their homecoming Sheffield Arena concert in November. Signed by Nick, the guitar will be auctioned to raise much-needed funds for the £1 million appeal to bring a new 12-bed World-class Cystic Fibrosis facility to the Northern General Hospital.
“We’ve travelled all around the globe this past year, but Sheffield will always be home to us,” said Matt, who was one of the founder members of the band when they formed at Stocksbridge High School. “To be able to help the Sheffield Cystic Fibrosis Appeal, which will make life so much better for the young people being treated here, is something we’re delighted to be able to do.”
Bass player Nick added: “The support we’ve received from the people of Sheffield has always been immense – the November Arena gig was one of the highlights of our tour. So we were thrilled to be able to come along today and give something back to them.”
Matt and Nick where invited to visit patients at the Northern General Hospital by Adam Guest who went to school with members of the Arctic Monkeys, and who is the brother of Cystic Fibrosis patient Sam Guest.
The guitar, which, in addition to being used on the band's latest tour, was also the first bass owned by Nick O'Malley when he joined the Arctic Monkeys, will shortly be auctioned by Sheffield Hospitals Charitable Trust, as part of its appeal to help fund the building of the specialist facility.
Head of Fundraising Emma Dickens said she hoped the guitar would raise thousands of pounds towards the £1m appeal total. “At the moment, the specialist team has just two dedicated treatment rooms for Cystic Fibrosis patients, which means that young adults have to be treated on general respiratory wards they share with elderly patients,” said Emma.
“This new facility will be the leading Cystic Fibrosis centre in the UK, allowing medical staff to provide the best specialist care in a purpose-built, state-of-the-art unit.
“We’re so grateful to the Arctic Monkeys for coming along today and supporting the appeal. The response of the people of Sheffield has already been amazing, and we hope that the auction of this guitar will help us get ever closer to our target.”
The signed guitar will be auctioned online in the coming weeks on auction website Ebay – more details will follow. In the meantime if anyone would like to approach the charity with a realistic bid for this piece of music history they can contact Emma Dickens direct on 0114 226 3555