Ipswich mother Astrid Fjellbrook organises gig at Steamboat Tavern to raise money for vital surgery
Astrid Fjellbrook with her children Daisy and Marshall. Picture: GREGG BROWN
Musicians have united in support of a mother-of-two from Ipswich who is fundraising for life-changing surgery in Spain.
Astrid Fjellbrook, 37, is organising a gig at the town’s Steamboat Tavern on Saturday, November 25 with a line-up of the best local talent as she continues to battle a debilitating genetic connective tissue disorder called hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.
The former science teacher is aspiring to raise £59,000 for an operation in Barcelona because she is not able to have it on the NHS.
Along with headaches, breathing and heart problems, frequent bone dislocations, insomnia and fainting, the illness has also put Ms Fjellbrook at risk of death by internal decapitation because her neck is so unstable.
Ms Fjellbrook said her only hope of securing a bright future for her and her two children, Marshall, 16, and 12-year-old Daisy, who also has Ehlers-Danlos, was to undergo cervical fusion surgery, which will see bones in her neck joined together.
The fundraising total has topped £4,000 but in order to hit her target Ms Fjellbrook is stepping up her efforts by hosting a day of live music.
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She said: “Music to me has always been my everything. From a young age I would sneak into gigs and attended festivals until my health would no longer allow it. Now I make do with my sofa and vinyls.
“When I found out I needed to fundraise for surgery it was the obvious choice to do a music event. Ipswich has such a rich diverse musical history and hugely supportive community of artists and promoters that are always willing to give their time and skills to enrich others’ lives and even fundraise.
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“I hosted an all day music event at The Swan in 2012 raising over £1,000 for vital research into the complications of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. But now it feels selfish fundraising for me but if I want a future I don’t have a choice. I just feel so lucky to have such compassionate talented generous people supporting me on my journey.”
Performers include Pale Girls, Moe Noble, David T Briti$h, Beeba, Banco, Nero and Phil, Denial Twist, In My Disguise, Guilty Can Can, Impilo and Mayday Miracle.
Tickets are £15 and can be purchased online.
To donate to Ms Fjellbrook’s surgery appeal, visit her YouCaring page.
