Marathon ukulele jam raises £10k for charity

A group in Southampton raised over £10,000 for charity by playing ukuleles continuously for a full 30 hours in a special “UKe‑athon” fundraising event. The marathon took place at God’s House Tower, beginning at 10 a.m. on Saturday and wrapping up on Sunday afternoon.

They surpassed several fundraising milestones—including an initial goal of £4,000—and ended up raising roughly £10,777 for four local charities: The Society of St James, Yellow Door, No Limits, and Mountbatten Hampshire. These organizations focus on supporting individuals facing homelessness, domestic abuse, youth vulnerability, and end-of-life care.

Colin McUke, co-founder of Southampton Ukulele Jam (SUJ), expressed deep gratitude for the “huge group effort” that made their achievement possible. He jokingly hoped they’d “passed the audition” as the Jam concluded with a lively rendition of The Clash’s “Should I Stay or Should I Go,” performed after an epic 30 hours, one minute, and 25 seconds of continuous playing.

SUJ, known for its inclusive and free-to-join ethos, meets fortnightly at The 1865 venue in Southampton. Rather than sticking to traditional ukulele tunes, the group prefers a wide-ranging repertoire—from punk rock to pop—played with a “chaotic sense of fun” that emphasizes enthusiasm over technical ability.

The idea for the fundraiser came after a performance at the Southampton Marathon, prompting the question: how long could they keep playing? Fueled by enthusiasm, coffee, cake, and sweets—and buoyed by a passionate team—the group embraced the challenge from the moment it began.

From Colin’s perspective, he’s left with overwhelming gratitude—not only for the generous donations but also for the enthusiastic community that supported what might have seemed like a whimsical idea from the very start.

Source: BBC