A BOLTON Wanderers Community Trust worker has used her musical talent to help a close cause.
Beth Warriner, from Astley Bridge, performed 26 songs in 26 minutes in a YouTube video to raise funds for the trust amid the financial uncertainty it faces like other charities during the lockdown.
Wearing a Bolton training shirt, the 26-year-old sang and played 13 songs on the guitar – including classics such as Amy Winehouse's Back to Black – before switching instruments to her ukulele where she played 13 more tracks.
Her effort was part of The 2.6 Challenge that charities took part in on Sunday, April 26 to generate funds, the day that the London Marathon was due to take place before it was cancelled.
To watch the full video of Beth's performance click here.
Beth graduated with a degree in commercial music at Bath Spa University six years ago.
She said: "A few of my colleagues and young people at the trust were doing sporty things for The 2.6 Challenge but I thought I would rather do something less blood-pumping than that!
"So I thought of different things that I could do.
"I used to sing and play guitar at gigs at university but I had lost my confidence in performing because I was out of practice.
"I thought I would try and play 26 songs in a limited amount of time.
"I made sure I knew all the chords before I recorded it and I did it in one take!
"I really enjoyed it. It brought back that kind of passion which I thought was gone and since then I have bought a guitar.
"This really has boosted my confidence."
Beth plays a track on the ukulele
Beth, who works as a youth engagement lead for children up to the age of 18 at the trust, has had rave reviews from people who watched her video.
"A lot of people like my colleagues did not know I could sing or play guitar and I have got really positive feedback," Beth added.
As the lockdown continues Beth plans to record more music videos to entertain her newfound fans and has ambitions to return to venue stages when restrictions are lifted.
She has raised £1,300 for the trust, which managed to amass £6,000 through all its challenge contributors.
Beth praised people for their donations.
To visit Beth's Justgiving page click here.
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