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English expatriate and gifted singer Annie Kennaugh has embarked on a noble mission – to use her musical talent to support those suffering from cancer.
The 25-year-old former British School of Bahrain (BSB) student recently took centre stage at the Dilmun Club in Saar, raising more than BD1,000 for the Bahrain Cancer Society through a heartfelt performance.
For Annie, this initiative is deeply personal.
Just 18 months ago, the Janabiya resident faced a life-altering diagnosis – a brain tumour that required surgery. Her first charity concert on November 27 wasn’t just a show; it marked the anniversary of her operation.
“Instead of it being a sad day, I wanted to turn it into something that could help other people,” Annie, who presently lives with her fiancé Ross Laing and younger brother Alfie Kennaugh, told GulfWeekly.
“We raised just more than BD1,000, including BD120 raised by my older brother Jack who shaved his head at the charity gig.”
Annie arrived in the kingdom in 2018 with her parents: dad Rob Kennaugh, who works in Saudi Arabia, mum Dawn, a teacher at an international school in Bahrain, and brother Alfie, 22, who studied at St Christopher’s School. He just completed his Master’s in cinematography from Bournemouth University, England and returned this year. Her older brother Jack, who was working in the UK at the time, also joined them this year.
After two years in Bahrain, Annie moved to the UK to pursue her higher education.
“I had come back for my summer holiday in September 2023 when I learned about the tumour. I have hormonal issues and was recommended to get an MRI done to ensure there was nothing wrong with my pituitary gland. The tumour was spotted incidentally,” Annie explained.
Although the surgery was successful, recovery has been challenging.
“I’m still undergoing physical therapy for some balance and co-ordination issues. Reading has become quite difficult, and my memory has become a lot worse than it used to be. I was in a wheelchair last January but am happy to be on my two feet now.”
Grateful for her progress, Annie hopes to transform her personal journey into a force for good, pledging to make charity gigs in support of cancer patients an annual tradition.
While last month’s event marked her first official charity performance, Annie’s love for music runs deep – she has been singing for as long as she can remember.
“I come from a very musical family – my mum plays the cello and my dad, the guitar. So we always grew up with music and did a lot of karaoke,” she said.
“When I almost turned 14, I played at the summer fair for my school in China where we lived at the time. My friend’s dad happened to be there, he owned a restaurant, and he asked me to play in his restaurant. From there, I’ve had weekly gigs pretty much until now,” added the talent, who has already sung a few times at the Dilmun Club.
Annie’s repertoire spans covers of international artists across genres – from pop to rock – but she admits most fans know her best for her soulful renditions of Adele.
She often shares the stage with popular guitarist and Filipino expatriate Jared Simangan, creating soulful performances that captivate audiences.
Looking ahead to the New Year, Annie plans to devote more time to her music while also working towards completing her education. “I’m studying special educational needs at the University of East London and definitely want to finish that,” she said.
