Flash mob choir - Leigh-on-Sea

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Flash mob choir raise the roof at Rayleigh Sainsbury’s

A COMMUNITY choir has smashed its fundraising target for Comic Relief with a supermarket stunt.

Shoppers at Rayleigh Weir’s Sainsbury’s were stunned when a 200-strong choir headed by a dressed-up choir leader Andrew Small regaled them with a rousing rendition of Dolly Parton’s hit song “9 to 5.”

Members of the charity Buskerteers Choir, which has groups across Rayleigh, Southend, Chelmsford, Maldon and South Woodham, were disguised as regular shoppers before they and Dolly (Mr Small) burst into song in a bid to raise £5,000 for Comic Relief.

“I wanted to bring some fun and excitement to a standard and day-to-day scenario,” charity founder Mr Small was said.

At time of writing, the fundraising total had reached £5,762.

Mr Small dressed up in a dress and wig in the supermarket car park, before making his way into the shop.

He added: “After I started singing the ‘shoppers’ emerged from the isles and joined in. As the song finished, they dispersed back into the shop leaving everyone else stunned at what had happened.”

Mr Small explained that he and the choir chose to celebrate the Queen of Country for their latest fundraising stunt, as the song also reflected life returning back to normal working patterns after the pandemic.

The choir always do something special to fundraise for Comic Relief, and during the first Covid lockdown, they did a video of Queen’s “I Want to Break Free.”

A 35-year-old musician, Mr Small started the choir to give back to the community: “I love bringing people together and using it to help other people and have fun doing so.”

The amount raised for various charities since their inception in 2020 now tops £80,000.

Mr Small confessed, however, to having an even bigger target: “We are on a mission to raise £1 million for charity from busking and performing.”

He also encouraged anyone else who is interested in the choir and its activities to get in touch: “It’s an all-inclusive community group; anyone can join without an audition or any previous musical experience.”

To donate, visit: justgiving.com/page/andrew-small-1678288182499. Visit the choir’s website at: buskerteerschoir.com.

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