Bounce Back: A Month’s Mind For Erbie Underwood
Posted on 7th Feb 12 by Mike McGrath Bryan | 
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Gatchaiocht’s Christiana Underwood discusses the upcoming A Month’s Mind fundraiser for Bounce Back, a new Cork charity with the aim of improving youth facilities and suicide awareness.
The 22nd of February sees Cork Opera House play host to the first fundraiser in aid of the newly-founded Bounce Back organisation.
Bounce Back came about after the passing last month of young basketballer Erbie Underwood, and support for the organisation, established by his family, has been overwhelming, not least from Cork’s hip-hop, funk and soul community, who have rallied around to perform at the event, including Brian Deady and the Papa Zitas.
Speaking on the fundraiser and what Bounce Back hopes to achieve for Cork youth and the community was Christiana Underwood, perhaps better known to Drop-d readers as the voice of funkateers Gatchaiocht.
It’s almost impossible to come to terms with what has happened to my brother. I don’t know what I will do without him but one thing my mother Karen Underwood, chairperson of ‘Bounce Back’, his extended family and friends and I do know is, we want to prevent this from happening again. The aim of this new organisation is to be a place where young people feel they are heard, and can work through the problems we have all face growing up. “Who am I? What am I going to do with my life?” Talking and open communication can save a person’s life and as corny as it sounds, a problem shared is a problem halved. I think just listening and empathising can be just as or even more important than trying to fix issues with advice.
The other side of this project is to allow young people to express themselves through positive and healthy activities. Basketball was one of Erbie’s great loves but unless you’re a part of basketball clubs there’s hardly any places to go where you can just throw around a basketball for a couple of hours and hang out with your friends. We want to have facilities where you can try something new, whether it is dance, music or football.
I am passionate about creating awareness about suicide, and I just want people to pay attention to their friends and family members. We have only really lost my brother if he has died in vain, and we can end this notion that talking about your feelings makes you less of a man. I loved him dearly and he will always have a place in my heart, soul and memories but we need to talk and listen to the people calling out for help now.
The line-up for ‘A Month’s Mind’ will include:
Brian Deady
The Papa Zitas
The Roaring Forties
The Booty Band
GMC
All profits will go to ‘Bounce Back’. Tickets are €25 available from Monday the 6th of February in the Cork Opera House box office or online at www.corkoperahouse.ie.
For further information:
Cork Opera House, www.corkoperahouse.ie
Box Office, 021-427-0022
Tags: Bounce Back, Brian Deady, GMC, The Booty Band, The Papa Zitas, The Roaring Forties
[...] Bounce Back is the brainchild of the family of Erbie Underwood, who was lost to suicide last month. The night at Cork Opera House will be a celebration of his life through jazz, hip-hop and funk music, but is also the birth of an organisation by the same name. Bounce Back has been set up with the aim of providing a social retreat for Cork youths from 12-20 years of age and. Supported by some of the city’s most popular musical acts, including Brian Deady and The Roaring Forties, it will also be MC-ed by Des Bishop and Karen Underwood. [...]