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A Boy Called Alex
C4 Thursday 24 January 2008 9pm
Alex has cystic fibrosis, a genetically-inherited disease which is slowly destroying his digestive system and his lungs.
Alex has a particularly virulent form. Over the years, the disease has attacked his bones and left him partially deaf, especially distressing for a musician.
There is no cure. Without the massive cocktail of drugs pumped into his bloodstream day and night, Alex would not be alive today.
His greatest musical challenge
Neither the drugs nor the disease will stop Alex from now taking on the greatest musical challenge of his life: to conduct a performance of Bach's epic choral work, the Magnificat, before an audience of several hundred people in the glorious setting of Eton's 15th century chapel.
As Alex explains, 'Music makes me forget about where I am or what state I am in or what's happening to my lungs. Music is my hope. It's everything.'
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