Looking for something interesting to do this weekend in Niagara?

It's another busy spring weekend in Niagara, with no shortage of things to see and do as everything blooms all around us at this time of year.  So before the weekend starts, I wanted to touch on a couple of Saturday events that should be of interest to you.

Saturday morning, the 9th Annual Rankin Cancer Run takes place, leaving from St. Catharines Grantham Lions Club at 10 am.  For serious runners there is a 5k run; for more casual types like myself, there are two walk circuits planned, one a 1k course and the other the same 5k course the runners use.

Whether you are a participant, sponsor, volunteer or just an interested spectator, this is an important event in the local community, where money raised goes to help out right here in Niagara.  In the past 8 years, for example, almost $4-million has been raised in order to fund immediate cancer care  for residents of Niagara.

Pre-registration begins at Grantham Lions Club Park at 8 am and the runners hit the starting line at 10; the walkers and those with strollers and dogs follow soon afterwards.  You can still sponsor a walker or runner, of course, or even do the course yourself so long as you pre-register in the morning and pay the $20 fee to participate.  I will be walking again this year, in fact, so I would be happy to have your support should you choose to sponsor me on the 5k walk.

Last year I recall it rained constantly from start to finish, and we all got more soaked than we had anticipated, but it is a great cause and everyone has a great time no matter what the weather is like.  This year, we are hoping for a better morning for the event, so let's keep our fingers crossed, shall we?

It's important to note, by the way, the Rankin Cancer Run is organized and run completely by volunteers.  No one is paid, so all the money raised goes to fun cancer care in your own backyard.  Can you help support the runners or walkers?  We all thank you so much for your generosity if you do!

In the evening, a special musical event takes place at St. Thomas' Anglican Church on Ontario Street in downtown St. Catharines, as forty boys and girls of the New York City Children's Chorus will be performing music ranging from Bach and Handel to Aaron Copland's "Old American Songs" as well as favourite Broadway songs from such shows as "The Sound of Music", "Mary Poppins" and "Oliver."

The NYCCC was founded at Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church by Mary Huff and Andrew Henderson, the pride of Thorold, of course.  The choir shot to national attention in 2012 when they appeared on Saturday Night Live with Paul McCartney, appeared on the TODAY show, and more recently performed with Josh Groban as well as on Good Morning America.

The group plan to record their first CD of American art songs very soon, for release in 2015.  

Andrew Henderson really needs no introduction around these parts, of course.  He is the son of Cathy and John Henderson, owners of Henderson's Pharmacy in downtown Thorold, a mainstay on historic downtown Front Street for 75 years now.  Andrew began his organ studies at the tender age of 11, and as he grew up in Niagara performed regularly at many of the local churches both for services and for organ recitals.

Today he is Director of Music and Organist at Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church in New York City, a post he acquired in 2005 following the retirement of his former teacher, John Weaver.  Andrew is organ instructor at Teacher's College at Columbia University, and is the Associate Organist at New York City's Temple Emanu-El, the largest Jewish house of worship in the world.

I have had the pleasure of meeting Andrew many times in the past and find his quiet, unassuming charm a constant and significant presence wherever he performs.  But can he perform!  I remember a recital he gave years ago in his native Thorold where his encore piece just blew the proverbial roof off the church he was performing in at the time.

But of course, on this tour the real stars are the forty boys and girls who make up the New York City Children's Chorus, and together with Andrew as accompanist and Artistic Director Mary Huff, they will perform with Canadian soprano Allison McCauley.

The concert begins tomorrow night at 7 with tickets available at the door, or you can purchase them in advance at - where else? - Henderson's Pharmacy in Thorold...imagine that!  And if you need any more incentive to get out and enjoy a Saturday evening of great music, all proceeds go to benefit the tremendous work done every day by Community Care of St. Catharines and Thorold.

Tickets are only $ 20 by the way, or $15 for students and seniors.  Children under 12 are admitted free of charge.  Seating is general admission, so I suggest you plan to get there a little early if you can.

So there you go, two great events in one day, and both help out great local causes.  What more could you ask for?

Have a great weekend!

May 23rd, 2014.