TO start with this week I want to say thank-you! My 24-hour Swing-a-thon for the Alzheimer’s Society to salute my musical hero Tony Bennett has been a massive success with over £8,000 raised and funds still being donated.

The generosity of Trafford residents and from those further afield has been simply outstanding. During the 24 hours that I was singing I had a steady stream of people either passing by to donate in my collection box or donating online. 

I am actually struggling to put into words how grateful I am to everyone who either shared my fundraising event and/or donated to it.

The stories people told me as they donated were very moving and really kept me going through the long hours of this challenge. Countless stories of families and individuals who have had their lives touched by this terrible disease, it really was very moving and quite an honour to be told these stories. Thank you for sharing them with me.

I’d also like to thank the BBC who have been fantastic in supporting me throughout this fundraising endeavour. Through promoting it on North West Tonight and on BBC Radio Manchester, it really helped to spread the word and I am extremely grateful.

Also thank-you to Irish TV who came to film me halfway through the challenge. You can watch that show on Sky 191 or Freesat 162 next Thursday at 7.30pm.

The challenge itself was very gruelling. I won’t lie to you, I really struggled. I could feel my throat closing as the day went on. My eyes were tearing with tiredness and my lower back ached. The breathing required to sing for 24 hours made me light-headed and at a couple of occasions I thought I couldn’t complete the task.

But the whole point of this Swing-a-thon was to represent the 24-hour struggle living with Alzheimer’s is for those with the disease and those caring for them. So I at least I knew that once 6 o’clock came around my struggle would be over. Those with Alzheimer’s don’t have that luxury.

So, I did it and the money coming in for this very worthy cause, that can touch any of our lives, has been amazing.

If you haven’t yet done so, but would like to, you can still donate by clicking here.