Young cancer patients attend Chris Botti and Sting’s Tbilisi concert

Some of the youngest cancer patients in Georgia were given a unique chance this week to attend a concert by award-winning musicians Chris Botti and Sting.

On Saturday night the two legends – British singer Sting and American musician Chris Botti – sang at Tbilisi Concert Hall to a sold-out audience. 

Among the crowd were young cancer patients whose treatment is paid for by donations via the Government-initiated Solidarity Fund. 

This unforgettable gift to the children was the merit of the Bank of Georgia,” wrote the Solidarity Fund on its Facebook page, alongside a photo of the smiling children with the singers.

The young cancer patients met and received autographs from the music legends. Photo by the Solidarity Fund. 

These children are alive because of your support … they looked forward to the amazing evening. We believe the excitement they had and the memories they made will remain with them for a long time,” added the Fund.

One of the children, Niniko Tughushi, shared her emotions with local media after the concert. 

It was a great concert, we are so happy… Big thanks to the Solidarity Fund and the Bank of Georgia.” 

The Solidarity Fund thanked the Bank’s general director Irakli Gilauri and Administration of the Government of Georgia’s deputy head and chairperson of the Solidarity Fund Supervisory Board Nino Kobakhidze. 

You made the children’s dream come true, they did not believe it might happen,” the Fund added. 

Since its establishment in August 2014 following an initiative by Georgia’s ex-Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, the Fund has financed the treatment of 215 children and 22 adults suffering from cancer. With the funds, patients are given the chance to receive vital treatment at leading hospitals in Georgia and abroad.

The children said it was one of the most exciting days of their lives. Photo by the Solidarity Fund. 

The Fund called on the public sector to donate funds that would be distributed to cover the cost of urgent treatment for ill children and other priority social needs.

Sting and Chris Botti performed in Tbilisi on February 27-28 in Tbilisi. The event was organised by the Bank of Georgia and its new banking conception SOLO Lifestyle.

This was not the first time the pair played in Georgia. The two musicians first performed in Georgia in 2011 when they appeared at the Batumi Piazza in western Georgia.