Cancer research gains nearly $35k from SFU band event

Almost $35,000 were raised for the BC Cancer Foundation at the Pipe Up for Cancer and Balding For Boney event put on by the Simon Fraser University Pipe Band where a whole lot of art was played and a whole lot of hair was lost, all in honour of band-member Andrew Bonar.

Former SFU piper Skye Richendrfer emceed the concert and hair-razing post-concert event. A sold-out ticketed ceilidh followed the entire affair and went into the night. Richendrfer played with Bonar in Abbotsford Legion, his first band in the late-1970s.

“It was so wonderful to see friends and supporters of SFU and Andrew Bonar specifically, coming together to celebrate this way,” Richendrfer said. “What a meaningful and thoughtful response and such genuine outpouring of support for Andrew and his family. One for the ages!”

Andrew Bonar has been a member of SFU since the early-1980s, and is one of the world’s most accomplished solo pipers, with his many awards including the Silver Medal at the Northern Meeting in 2010. He was diagnosed with a rare form of brain cancer last year and has been undergoing treatment since shortly after the 2014 World Pipe Band Championships, at which he competed with SFU.

Bonar wrote a moving account of his ordeal for pipes|drums in November of last year.

The band previewed some material that it plans to perform at its Pre-World’s Concert in August in Glasgow.

Nonprofit pipes|drums Magazine made a contribution of $250 to the cause.