Health & Fitness
Singing Out for a Cure
On Saturday, May 11, VOH will peform the full musical "Jesus Christ Superstar" at the North Shore Music Theatre in Beverly.
I am Greg Chastain, founder of the Voices of Hope (VOH). Voices of Hope was created to turn my sorrow about the loss of my mother to cancer into something meaningful and productive. Mom loved the theater and was an avid supporter of my performances.
In 2009, after I had been cast in a local production of "Aida," we learned that her battle against pancreatic cancer was nearly over. We had hoped that she’d be able to see me on stage one more time, but sadly, she passed away a week before the show was to open. With a heavy heart I left the show to honor the amazing woman who had wholeheartedly supported my efforts, and had been my biggest fan all my life.
But my castmates refused to let me grieve alone and I would come to know the love and support of the theater community as one of the greatest healers of pain. With their encouragement, I returned to perform in the production, feeling some comfort in knowing my mom was smiling from above.
As I listened to my cast mates speak of their own experiences with cancer, I become aware that nearly every one of us had a had a story to tell. I became keenly aware of just how many people I knew whose lives had been effected by cancer.
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As the show came to a close, I knew I had to do something to help, not only myself, but so many others I care for. It was then and there that the idea of calling upon the performance community to use our talent to raise funds for cancer research was born.
Since then, VOH has grown into a nationally recognized nonprofit organization with a board that is fully engaged in a number of awareness and fund raising activities to support our mission. We have more than 100 performers and others who support us behind the scenes to help spread the word about our efforts and the work of those whom our dollars support.
On Saturday, May 11, VOH will peform the full musical "Jesus Christ Superstar" at the North Shore Music Theatre in Beverly. Proceeds from ticket sales will benefit The Henri and Belinda Termeer Center for Targeted Therapies at the Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center. Tickets can be purchased by visiting www.nsmt.org.
I know my mom will be smiling down on me as always, as we all come together to sing out for a cure for cancer!
