Johnny Alfrey's legacy thrives with £4,000 raised for youth music charity JAMM

Friends, family, and local supporters of Johnny Alfrey, a much-loved Littleborough musician, have raised over £4,000 for a charity founded in his memory. Johnny, who tragically passed away in June 2022, has inspired ongoing community efforts to support young musicians through the Johnny Alfrey Music Memorial (JAMM), a community interest company established in 2023.

On 21 September, Johnny’s father, Chris Charnley, joined over 40 friends and family members on a half marathon event held in Anglesey.
 

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Participants, ranging in age from 6 to 50, walked or ran the course in honour of Johnny, raising £3,707 through their efforts.

Dad Chris said he was heartened by the outpouring of support from everyone who joined, emphasising the importance of these events in keeping Johnny’s legacy alive.

Chris, 49, explained the motivation behind creating JAMM: “Johnny passed away just over two years ago. We knew even then that we had to do something to keep his name alive. He was so talented, and music was his life, so JAMM is a way of doing that.

"The Johnny Alfrey Music Memorial provides a valuable space for local musicians to practise, receive training, and access sound equipment, all free of charge."

He also explained that JAMM was inspired by Johnny’s passion for music and his commitment to helping others in the industry. In addition to the half marathon, the organisation held its first annual music festival in 2023 at Littleborough Rugby Club, attracting an impressive 700 attendees.

He added: “The funds have allowed us to open the Johnny Alfrey Music Memorial on Todmorden Road - a totally free space for musicians to practise and have access to training, instruments, and so on.
 

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“As we’re a not-for-profit, fundraising is really important for us to keep going and offer things like this.”

Johnny passed away at the age of 22 due to heart abnormalities, including a prolonged QTc interval and a T-wave inversion.

His inquest later revealed that Johnny’s death could have been prevented had these issues been addressed. In honour of Johnny’s life, his family and friends founded JAMM to give other young musicians access to resources and opportunities that Johnny held dear.

In addition to the half marathon, local choir group Sing! Littleborough offered their support. On 6 November, Sing! Littleborough, led by Phil Reynolds, held a fundraising event at Littleborough Cricket Club, raising an additional £450 for JAMM.

Chris expressed his appreciation for Phil’s involvement, saying, “I’m really grateful to Phil Reynolds who got involved in this. Sing! Littleborough is a great organisation, and it was a really good event.”

 

 

Since its inception in 2023, JAMM has had a notable impact on the local community, hosting its second music festival this year, which attracted over 600 attendees.

Chris noted that countless supporters have contributed time, resources, and skills to ensure JAMM’s success, allowing the organisation to continue offering free rehearsal spaces, mentoring, and exposure opportunities to budding musicians.

For those interested in supporting JAMM, the charity has a JustGiving page where donations can be made to fund its ongoing work in memory of Johnny Alfrey, ensuring that his love for music continues to resonate throughout Littleborough and beyond.

To donate, visit: www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/JAMMhalfmarathon