'Tuning in to help others': Wakefield musician busks for 24-hours for Andy's Man Club
A Wakefield musician has raised more than £1,700 for Andy’s Man Club by busking – for the first time - for 24-hours straight in the city centre.
Dean England, set himself the challenge after a ‘tough year’, deciding to take a the pain and tune it into something that helps others.
His 24-hour busking session in Wakefield city centre took place from 9am on Christmas Eve all the way through the cold of night until 9am Christmas Day.
Dean, 39, from Outwood, said: “I played outside the Cathedral until the shops closed, then spent all night up and down Westgate playing to people and collecting donations for Andy’s Man Club.
"I went back the Cathedral and played outside as people arrived for Midnight Mass and again as they left before heading back to Westgate until morning light
"I was back outside the Cathedral for 7am continuing to play constantly and my fingers blistered and were sore, but I kept going!”
He was then invited by Revd Canon Dr Philip Hobday into the Cathedral as the clock struck 9am on Christmas morning.
“My friend, Ash, spent all night with me with a board around his neck with a QR code on, to give me his support, which has been left on display inside the Cathedral.
"I set out to raise £500, but so far we’ve raised a whopping £1,722."
Andy’s Man Club offers free support groups across the UK and online, with an aim to end the stigma surrounding men’s mental health and help men through the power of conversation.
To find out more about Dean and his music, visit his Facebook page here.