A RECORDING released by a choir at the only specialist lymphoedema clinic in the Forth Valley is raising funds for Strathcarron Hospice.

The Lymph Notes Choir, which has been running at the hospice's lymphoedema clinic as a pilot project in the past six months, has released a recording of Caledonia to raise funds.

The choir was established six months ago to address a lack of peer support available for lymphoedema and lipoedema patients, and has been meeting weekly since.

Funded by D'Oyly Carte Charitable Trust and Arnold Clark Community Fund, the choir led by Soundsational Community Music has encouraged socialisation and managed to boost participants' mental health and mood by 35 per cent on average.

Lynette Murray, Lymph Notes Choir member from Tullibody, said: “I joined Lymph Notes to accompany my friend who has lymphoedema.

“I also have an ongoing health condition, rheumatoid arthritis.

“I have found that not only are our weekly sessions the only time I manage to leave the house due to working from home, we come away on a huge 'natural high’.

“The Lymph Notes Choir has completely changed our mind set and helped with my social isolation. I just never want it to end.”

Many who joined the choir, which started to provide a group activity, did not know anyone else living with the condition before deciding to take part.

Margaret-Anne Garner, lymphoedema specialist at Strathcarron Hospice, added: “Before Lymph Notes Choir, many of our lymphoedema and lipoedema pilot programme volunteers had never performed outside their own shower.

“This was a whole new experience for them and we are grateful for their enthusiasm and support.

“Research has found several physical benefits to singing that are particularly helpful to people with lymphoedema and lipoedema.”

Visit youtu.be/7kT7EynjP5o to hear the recording, www.strathcarronhospice.net/donate/donate-now/20 to donate and email fv.strathcarron.lymphoedema@nhs.scot to inquire about joining the choir.