Mendip Male Voice Choir will begin rehearsals for its autumn series of concerts in September and welcome new recruits who have signed up to its 20 Men Needed charity challenge to raise funds for Prostate Cancer UK.

The Mendip Men are looking for 20 men who will rehearse with the choir during its autumn/winter season, starting on 21st September.

At least 13 have risen to the challenge already and the choir would welcome more to raise funds for this important charity, helping to combat a disease that affects too many men.

Volunteers will be tasked with raising at least £50 in sponsorship for Prostate Cancer UK to complete the challenge.

Those who sign up will rehearse with the Mendip Men for their autumn and Christmas concert series before singing with the choir at its annual Christmas Concert at St John’s Church Midsomer Norton in December.

Choir rehearsals take place on Monday evenings between 7.30pm and 9.30pm at Midsomer Norton Methodist Centre (BA3 2DR).

“No singing experience is needed and you don’t need to be able to read music”, says Choir chairman Richard Luscombe. “We raised over £4,000 for Prostate Cancer UK when we ran a similar campaign three years ago and we would like to top that, if possible.”

One in eight men are likely to get Prostate Cancer in the U.K, mainly affecting men aged 50 and over. For black men, the risk is doubled. NHS data shows that prostate cancer is now the most common cancer in the UK, with over 64,000 men diagnosed in 2022.

The Mendip Male Voice Choir was formed as the Timsbury Male Voice Choir in 1919, drawing in men from the coal-mining community. The choir has continued to grow since then, even though coal mining ended over 50 years ago.

More details: mendipmen.co.uk