Red Cross War Memorial Hospital’s “Singing Doctor” has been selected as the opening act at Irish superstar, Ronan Keating’s charity event tomorrow evening.
Dr Marc Hendricks, 45, will perform at A night with Ronan Keating, to help raise funds for children who have cancer and to help upgrade the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital Oncology Unit where he works as a senior specialist in paediatric oncology.
Dr Hendricks has always been passionate about singing and since his younger days, has participated in eisteddfods and festivals and belonged to bands. Even though he was passionate about singing, he studied medicine at UCT and graduated with a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) in 1996.
He went on to first specialise in paediatrics from 2004 to 2007 and then oncology, from 2005 to
2007.
Dr Hendricks’ music career has taken off in recent years with the release of his first solo album, Upright Citizen in April last year.
When Dr Hendricks was asked by his Children’s Hospital Trust staff whether he would like to open for Mr Keating at his charity event, he immediately accepted. “I am obviously very humbled to have been asked in the first place but I am also very excited. Who wouldn’t be?
“Getting an opportunity to play with someone with Ronan’s musical pedigree and having listened to his music on the radio and television, of course is a thrill,” said Dr Hendricks.
“I’m looking forward to having Dr Marc Hendricks share the stage with me in South Africa for this special occasion. He does remarkable work at Red Cross Children’s Hospital Oncology Unit and I’m looking forward to seeing what he can do on stage as well,” said Mr Keating.
Dr Hendricks has been working at the Red Cross for 17 years and he understands the funding struggles faced by the Oncology unit.
Mr Keating has also joined forces with South African golfing icon Gary Player to raise more funds for his charity event through a golf tournament they’ll be hosting at the Westlake Golf Club on Saturday.