GP swaps stethoscope for clarinet in European Doctors Orchestra

Karen Riddle, who works at Wawn Street Surgery, will be performing alongside 99 other doctors from across the continent in the European Doctors Orchestra (EDO) concert.

As well as being a founder member of the orchestra, Karen will perform in a concert she’s helped to organise at The Sage Gateshead on Sunday, November 27.

Funds raised will be donated to CLIC Sargent, a UK charity that supports children and young adults who are suffering from cancer.

The orchestra, formed in 2004, performs two public charity concerts each year at venues across Europe.

Karen, who will be performing for the second time with the EDO in Newcastle, said: “What better way to spend some down time than playing good music with a wonderful variety of doctors and raising some money for young people facing some of the toughest challenges there are?

“Last time the North East did us proud and we had the biggest audience EDO has ever had – let’s hope we can do even better this time.”

The concert will also see special guest Weronika Okroj share her story with the audience. Weronika, 19, from Newcastle, was supported by CLIC Sargent when she was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma after finding a lump on her neck last year.

She went through intensive chemotherapy to fight the cancer, which had spread to her bones by the time it was diagnosed.

During her treatment she was supported by CLIC Sargent, and took part in the charity’s music programme, which sees young people affected by cancer come together for workshops to learn songwriting and performance skills with the help of professionals.

l Tickets for the concert, which takes place at 3pm in hall one at The Sage Gateshead, cost £15 (£10 concession) and are available from the ticket office on 0191 443 4661 or by visiting www.thesagegateshead.com