On Saturday 22nd June, over 3,500 music lovers gathered at the Recreation Ground in Tongham for this year’s Samfest, an all-day festival which brings together people of all ages to celebrate music and life.
The festival raised money for local charities including Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice Care, which provides supportive and end of life care for adult patients and families who are living with an advanced or terminal illness, such as cancer.
Queen tribute band Rock Q and Oasis tribute band Maybe Oasis led the line-up, while Ska Dogs sang hits from the likes of Madness, The Specials and Bad Manners, The Chilli Fighters fused the music of the Foo Fighters with the Red Hot Chilli Peppers to create a fantastic funk rock set, and The Frets and X factor contestant Jack Mason rounded off a fine main stage line up. With a fun fair and a festival market too, this really was a brilliant day out for the whole family.
“We would like to thank the organisers of Samfest for choosing to support Phyllis Tuckwell once again. It’s easy to underestimate how much work goes into putting on an event of this size and we are so grateful to Michael and the team for all the hard work and time they put in to making the 2019 Samfest such a successful family event in our community” said Charli Quay-Barnham, Community Fundraising Manager at Phyllis Tuckwell. “Every day we support over 250 patients, relatives and carers, through medical and nursing care, therapies, counselling, social work advice and practical support, but as the NHS/Government only covers 20% of our costs, we have to raise over £20,000 a day to do this, and the money donated from Samfest will help us to hit this target.”
100% of the profits from Samfest will be split between several local charities, with Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice Care receiving 70% of profits and the remaining 30% being split between other local charities and community groups based in Tongham. To find out more about Phyllis Tuckwell and the care it provides, visit www.pth.org.uk.