Over £2,750 donated to Zest young adult charity to fund music therapy sessions

More than £2,750 has been donated to Zest, by the Jess Grant Celebration, to fund music therapy sessions at the Suffolk young adult charity.

Donated by the local charity the Jess Grant Celebration, which was created in memory of Jess Grant who passed away aged 15-years-old after being diagnosed with osteosarcoma, the funds will provide one music therapy day a month for Zest’s recently launched Zest Days service.

Part of the St Elizabeth Hospice Group, Zest provides specialist medical and social support services to young adults living with progressive and life-limiting illnesses, while also ensuring the smooth transition from children’s hospice into adult care.

From its unique Short Breaks, which allows young adults to escape their daily routine, through to parent support groups, Zest Days and X-Change evening social groups, Zest allows young people to enjoy life to the full.

Helen Finlinson, Head of Inclusion and Development at St Elizabeth Hospice, a role which sees her lead on the development of Zest, said: “Everyone at Zest is so grateful to Anita and the Jess Grant Celebration for their generous support.

“The music therapy sessions will make such a big difference to the young adults and I know they will love taking part in them.

“Every pound we receive from the generosity of local people or organisations, such as the Jess Grant Celebration, is so important and enables us to continue supporting remarkable young people in our local community, helping them fulfill their aspirations and enjoy the quality of life they deserve.”

The new sessions will see a music therapist attend Zest once a month to provide inclusive fun and engaging group sessions as well as one-to-one sessions for the young adults to enjoy. While enabling them to express their feelings and connect with others through music; a particularly powerful opportunity for those who use non-verbal communication.

The Jess Grant Celebration is a charity created in memory of Jess Grant who passed away aged 15-years-old after being diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a rare bone cancer. However, her love of music, whether listening to or playing her electric guitar or drum, helped Jess greatly through her 3 and a half years of treatments and operations.

As a result, her parents Anita and Kevin established the Jess Grant Celebration in her memory with the ambition of helping improve the well-being of children and young people suffering from medical conditions by supporting the provision of music therapy.

Anita Grant said: “We are delighted that Jess Grant Celebration has been able to provide funding for music therapy sessions as part of Zest’s fantastic new Zest Days service. We know firsthand what a difference music therapy can make to young people.

“Jess was quite a private person and creating music helped her to express her emotions and process her feelings. It also provided a lot of enjoyment when times were really tough.

“She was like a different person after a music therapy session. Thanks to the fundraising efforts of our supporters, we are excited that we are able to provide funding for Zest to allow more young people to benefit from music therapy.”

To find out more about Zest call 01473 727776 or visit www.stelizabethhospice.org.uk/zest.

For more information about the Jess Grant Celebration visit www.jessgrantcelebration.org.uk.