Rhythm of dozens of ethnic drums is changing but doesn’t stop for a moment, like heartbeat, a symbol of life that never ceases to beat. Six hours hundreds of people, online connection with other “drum cities” – Tokyo, Rome, Vancouver, Nairobi, Los Angeles – this is how supporters of DrumSTRONG movement in Kyiv raised money for fighting cancer.
This movement originated in the USA in a family of musician Scott Swimmer, whose son got sick with the cancer. Even after his son was cured, Swimmer decided not to stop – he began to hold annual festivals DrumSTRONG to help in the global fight against cancer. With the time dozens of other cities joined the movement. Kyiv joined the initiative when three years ago the director of the school of ethnic drums GoDoPaTa Matvii Fridman got excited about the idea of such campaign and made his students excited about it too.
“In past years we raised money to help particular children – in 2011 we collected 10,000 hryvnias to help a young boy Vladyk from Poltava oblast. We still maintain contact with him, he is still fighting for his life,” said Tetiana MANZIUK, one of the organizers of the event. “In 2012 we gathered 16,000 hryvnias for a girl from Lviv oblast – unfortunately, she passed away. We got very sad when we found out this, but we believe that this work should be continued. This year we decided to somewhat change the concept – we want to help the pediatric oncology department of the National Cancer Institute. Of course, we will purchase medicine, but now we also want to make friends with the department. We have already visited the hospital and held a small interactive class with drums. Co-organizers of the event the studio of plasticine animation visit the hospital regularly – they make plasticine cartoons with sick children. This helps children to come out of their desperation, helps their parents, and takes the heat out of the situation.” Ms. Manziuk emphasizes that the DrumSTRONG campaign is not only about raising money. First of all, it is about spreading the ideas of humanism, mercy, compassion, and support.
“There is something original about the drums that brings people together – once a person with a drum appears somewhere, immediately all conversations stop. Everyone can play drums since everyone has the sense of rhythm,” said Manziuk.
