Sheku Kanneh-Mason
(Lars Borges)
JDRF
SHEKU KANNEH-MASON TO JOIN JDRF IN THE FIGHT AGAINST TYPE 1 DIABETES
JDRF names internationally renowned cellist
as a global ambassador
September
13, 2018—JDRF, the leading global organization funding type 1 diabetes
(T1D) research, is honoured to appoint internationally renowned cellist
Sheku Kanneh-Mason as a global
ambassador. The 19 year-old British cellist captured the world’s
attention during his performance at the Royal Wedding of Prince Harry
and Meghan Markle.
"We
are thrilled that Sheku has joined us as our international ambassador,”
said Karen Addington, JDRF UK Chief Executive. “We look forward to
collaborating with him to raise awareness
of type 1 diabetes - which is much misunderstood - and of our mission
to find the cure."
Sheku was diagnosed with T1D at the age of 12, five years before he
won BBC Young Musician 2016 and made his mark as one of the brightest young stars in classical music.
In January,
Sheku released his debut album,
Inspiration, which topped the classical charts and reached number
18 in the Official UK Album Charts. He performed in St George’s Chapel
at Windsor Castle during the wedding ceremony of the Duke and Duchess of
Sussex in May, which captured the attention
of viewers across the world and catapulted him on to the global stage.
Having T1D means Sheku has the added complication of constantly counting carbs,
injecting precise doses of insulin and
balancing his blood sugar levels to avoid life-threatening highs and lows
before he performs and
multiple times throughout each day to stay alive.
“Managing
my type 1 diabetes does provide an extra challenge before I perform.
Most musicians don't have to think about avoiding hypos!” Sheku
explains. “But playing at the Royal Wedding was awesome
and I'm glad I can help raise awareness of the condition, and of the
type 1 diabetes charity, JDRF.”
“We are
excited and honoured to have the support of such a talented,
distinguished and remarkable international role model who shares our
commitment to achieve a world without type 1 diabetes,” said
Derek Rapp, President and CEO of JDRF US. “With Sheku’s support and
through the power of his voice, we will raise global
awareness for the importance of research to find
life-changing breakthroughs and one day, a cure.”
As JDRF Global Ambassador, Sheku will help to highlight JDRF’s international research programme and lend his voice to
enhance fundraising, advocacy and education efforts in the fight against T1D.
Sheku will begin to collaborate on initiatives immediately.
On 17th September, JDRF is staging a party at
LAPADA Art & Antiques Fair
in London with an auction. Sheku will be providing a private cello
lesson to the
highest bidder. The money raised on the evening from the event and the
auction will support T1D research and JDRF is extremely grateful to
Sheku for donating this once-in-a-lifetime experience.
About type 1 diabetes
·
Type 1 diabetes
(T1D) is an autoimmune disease that can happen to anyone, regardless of
family history and is not caused by diet or lifestyle choices.
·
People with type 1
diabetes rely on multiple insulin injections or pump infusions every day
just to stay alive, until we find the cure
·
Type 1 diabetes affects about 400,000 people in the UK, 29,000 of them are children
About JDRF
JDRF is the leading global organization funding type 1
diabetes (T1D) research. Our mission is to accelerate life-changing
breakthroughs to cure, prevent and treat T1D and its complications. To
accomplish this, JDRF has invested more than
$2.2 billion (£1.69
billion) in research funding since our inception. We are an
organization built on a grassroots model of people connecting in their
local communities, collaborating
regionally for efficiency and broader fundraising impact, and uniting
on a national stage to pool resources, passion, and energy. We
collaborate with academic institutions, policymakers, and corporate and
industry partners to develop and deliver a pipeline
of innovative therapies to people living with T1D. Our staff and
volunteers are dedicated to advocacy, community engagement and our
vision of a world without T1D. For more information, please visit
jdrf.org.
About Sheku Kanneh-Mason
Sheku Kanneh-Mason first entered
the spotlight as winner of BBC Young Musician 2016. He made his BBC
Proms debut the following year, and released his first album,
Inspiration, earlier this year on Decca Classics. It entered the
Top 20 in the Official UK Albums Chart, making him the youngest cellist
ever to do so, and he also became one of this year’s biggest
breakthrough artists – across any genre. His cello arrangement
of Bob Marley’s ‘No Woman, No Cry’ went viral worldwide.
Sheku has been on a whirlwind
adventure in the past two years – performing twice at the BAFTAs,
playing at 10 Downing Street for the 30th anniversary of Black History
Month, making his Carnegie Hall debut, performing at
Paris Fashion Week, as well as high-profile TV appearances (including
two BBC documentaries) and a busy international concert career. His
performance at the Royal Wedding garnered huge public attention with
Vanity Fair describing him as “the cellist who stole
hearts” and Esquire calling him a “cello rockstar”.
Sheku is currently studying at
the Royal Academy of Music. He is passionate about making classical
music accessible to all. He comes from an incredible musical family in
which all 6 of his siblings (he is the third child
of 7) play instruments to a phenomenally high standard.
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