The Vision
Abreast The M62 is an exciting, creative and collaborative event with singers coming together to support 5 charities in Hull, Leeds, Huddersfield and Liverpool. Together we are raising awarenesss about preventing breast cancer, supporting and caring for those experiencing breast cancer both directly and indirectly, raising money to support the charities we are working with, and bringing a strong message about how much we can do ‘Together’.
The idea was conceived by Honley Ladies Choir in Huddersfield as we know the powerful communication of music, and have experienced the effect in coming together to sing with a unified purpose bringing encouragement, healing and support. Abreast the M62 is an ambitious but exciting event using music to bring communities together along our unique and important landmark, and to join in the work of Hull and East Riding Breast Friends, Maggies Yorkshire, Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Trust Breast Care Team, Prevent Breast Cancer, and Maggies Wirral.
What We Will Do - When,Where, What
Thursday 2nd October 2025 The Big Booby Dooby Launch at Cedar Court Huddersfield Hotel, 7pm
This is our Big Booby Dooby Launch at Cedar Court Huddersfield Hotel where we will be inviting singers, our partners and sponsors to join us in a celebration of the launch of this amazing collaboration and to find out more about the Saturday Big Booby Dooby Trail.
Saturday 4th October 2025 The Big Booby Dooby Trail
Honley Ladies Choir will be travelling the length of the M62, east to west, calling in at Hull, Leeds, and Liverpool to perform a Big Booby Dooby Sing in each venue. We are inviting other local singers and members of the public in each city to join us at the following locations to support the charities we are collaborating with in their awareness and fundraising day. Those who register to sing with us can either remain in their local city to continue supporting their charity or join us on the journey to Liverpool. For a £10 registration fee per person, participants will receive access to all music, learning materials, and exclusive event merchandise.
10am – 12 noon St Stephens Shopping Centre, Hull. Collaborating with Hull and East Riding Breast Friends Charity and Prevent Breast Cancer
2 – 4pm Jct 32 Shopping Centre near Leeds. Collaborating with Maggies Yorkshire, The Breast Screening Unit Leeds and Prevent Breast Cancer.
At each Booby Dooby Sing we will be performing a brand new song ‘Together’, written by Richard Sykes, which has a key theme of supporting and encouraging people experiencing breast cancer and their families. There will also be a humorous ‘Titty Ditty’ , written by Richard Sykes and Angela Fitzpatrick, about checking for signs of breast changes, and 4 or 5 compilations of contemporary well known songs in the cities we are visiting.
Proceeds from each Booby Dooby Sing will go to the charity(ies) who are running their awareness/fundraising day in each city.
Saturday 4th October 2025 7pm, Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral, The Big Booby Dooby Finale
Tickets for the general public to attend the launch event (these may be limited) and the Big Booby Dooby Finale in Liverpool, both at £10pp, are available via this link xxxxxxxx
Our hope is to bring as many singers together as possible to make a big impact, using the power of music to unite communities, celebrate resilience, and support those affected by breast cancer. Through these events, we aim to raise awareness about prevention, highlight the incredible care available, and inspire hope through the healing gift of song.
At the launch in Huddersfield and the finale in Liverpool there will be information stalls about the charities we are supporting, as well as personal stories about providing support and being supported through a breast cancer journey.
Our Composer
Our especially commissioned songs have been written by Richard Sykes, a professional songwriter of over 23 years who has known our Musical Director, Emily, for a long time. The first song he has written for the project, Together As One’, is a beautiful ‘anthem’ of community and togetherness in facing the impact of breast cancer. Here are just a couple of lines from the song: “no-one should be helpless or face their fears alone………………………………………..Reaching ‘cross our island, following the sun, we will sing together as one.” ” we’re with you at your side, hold hands towards tomorrow, link arms as we march on, we will sing together as one”. The Titty Ditty is a humorous song written by Richard and Angela Fizpatrick. We know you will love to sing it and it will raise more than a few smiles, but also get important messages across about the need to self-check for signs of changes in the breast regularly in order to catch any disease as early as possible. The compilations for each city have been written by Richard Sykes and Emily Reaves-Bradley.
