VIDEO: Charity event raises awareness and money for OCD

OCD is a debilitating illness, affecting 1-2% of the UK population. OCD Action held an event at the Retro Bar in Manchester to help raise money and awareness about the mental illness. 

OCD Action is the largest national charity focusing on Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). They provide support and information to anybody affected by OCD, work to raise awareness of the disorder amongst the public and front-line healthcare workers, and strive to secure a better deal for people with OCD.

Monday 20th February marks the beginning of OCD Week-of-Action (20-26 Feb 2017), following on from a charity fundraiser which took place over the weekend.

Liam Caly, the event's organiser, told the NQ why he helped to set-up the charity awareness gig: "The reason we put on the gig is because my younger sister suffers from OCD< specifically, intrusive thoughts, which isn't typically spoken about in the mainstream media.

"So we wanted to put on an event to raise money for the charity which has helped her through some difficult times."

Speaking about the success of the event, Liam added: "It's been great, everyone's been more than generous, most people have paid more than the entry fee to get in!"

French singer-songwriter Margaux Rose, who played at the fundraiser, spoke to the NQ about how the event had helped her realise that her own friends and family were suffering from OCD but were unaware: "I thought I didn’t know anyone who was suffering from OCD at first.

"But when I told one of my friends I was going to perform in order to raise money for OCD action, she told me that she was affected by it!"

The French-born artist also spoke about how it was like to perform in Manchester compared to France: "It’s quite different for me, because I am not used to sing in English. I feel like expectations are higher for me with lyrics and what I am saying."

Margaux heaped praise on Manchester's culture of music: "The music scene in Manchester is incredible! I mean, we’ve got some great places to listen to music back in France too, but not as many as in Manchester. People are so attentive, and not every city is like that!"

For more information, or to find out how to donate time or money to the charity, go to OCD Action's official website, or visit their FaceBook.

Do you know anyone suffering from OCD? Let us know in the comments: