Wigan had an early dose of festive spirit this weekend as a 24-hour “Christmas in September” Pianothon at Sunshine House smashed through the fundraising target, pulling in £1,500 for Macmillan Cancer Support and Wigan & Leigh Hospice.
From 2pm Friday right through to 2pm Saturday (and actually a little beyond – 29 hours in total), organiser Alan Gregory barely left the piano stool at the On The Way Café.
Festive tunes, carols and classics kept the room buzzing while donations came in both in person and online.
Alan said the “Christmas in September” idea came from a simple but powerful thought: some hospice patients may not make it to December 25th.
For him, it’s personal too – his wife Winifred died of cancer 16 years ago. “Christmas is when I miss her most,” he explained, “so bringing it forward made sense – and it gave us a chance to do something joyful for two brilliant charities.”
The atmosphere was every bit as warm as a December sing-song, with volunteers making sure the caffeine kept flowing, supporters clapping along, and social media full of encouragement.
So, who are Pianos, Pies & Pirouettes?
If you don’t already know, Pianos, Pies & Pirouettes CIC is a Wigan social enterprise that makes music and dance lessons affordable and accessible – especially for children from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Alan, a professional pianist, set it up after years of being priced out of lessons himself as a child. His co-founder, Donna Harrison, is a professionally trained dancer and teacher. Together they’ve built a community where kids can get stuck into piano, ballet, tap, street dance, and more – all without the big price tags that often put families off.
The group moved into a permanent home at Sunshine House in Scholes in 2024, after years of running classes in community centres and church halls. They’ve even teamed up with local organisations (including Wigan Warriors) to spread their love of the arts in unexpected places.
The final total will be split equally between Macmillan and Wigan & Leigh Hospice, but with donations still trickling in, the number could climb even higher than £1,500.
One thing’s for sure – between the pounding piano keys, endless cups of coffee, and the generosity of the brilliant people of Wigan, this Pianothon proved our town knows how to make noise for a good cause.
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