R.I.P. Carey Lander

R.I.P. Carey Lander

Carey Lander, the keyboardist for Scottish indie-pop band Camera Obscura, passed away this morning after battling osteosarcoma, an aggressive form of bone cancer, since 2011. She was 33.

Lander joined Camera Obscura in 2002 following the departure of previous keyboardist Lindsay Boyd, and she contributed organ, piano, and backing vocals to every album since 2003’s Underachievers Please Try Harder. In August, the group canceled scheduled shows in Mexico and October while she underwent treatment, and Lander started a JustGiving campaign to raise funds for cancer charity Sarcoma UK. In a statement shared today on the band’s official Facebook page, they announce that they will continue to raise money on her behalf:

It is with the greatest sadness, that we must share the news that Carey passed away peacefully this morning after her illness with cancer. We have lost our friend and band mate, and our deepest sympathy goes out to her partner Kenny, and to all her family and friends.

She was touched by the way you all got behind her campaign for Sarcoma UK and you can still donate here: https://www.justgiving.com/Carey-Lander

We shall be continuing to help promote the campaign on her behalf.

She was left in no doubt how much you all loved and appreciated her, and we’d like to thank you all for the support and kind words you have been sending to us and her. The band, our music, and all of you who have enjoyed it over the years, meant so much to her.

Thank you all, Tracyanne, Gavin, Kenny and Lee x

As Lander wrote on her JustGiving page, “It’s probably too late to help me, but it would be great if we could find something in the future that means children don’t have to undergo such awful treatment and have a better chance of survival.”

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