[Day 7: I survived the most ferocious and then the best of Beethoven's music! Thank you to 50+ listeners and to 150+ donors (any further donations are welcome) – and especially to the kind person (AR) who took me up to £3000.]

In 2010, I was successfully operated on for prostate cancer at the Royal Berks Hosp, Reading, by Robbie the Robot. The bad news: this marvellous machine is only half paid for. If I had £900K to spare ... but I haven't! So I'm aiming to raise £1000 by playing through Beethoven's 32 piano sonatas (for all the dates, click on Read more below) at South Hill Park Arts Centre, Bracknell, in public.

I must be mad: only professional pianists would ever think of doing such a thing, and then only after much practice. All I practise is sight-reading. I love this music (well, most of it), but I estimate that it adds up to nearly half a million notes and will take me 21 hours. I shall need all the encouragement I can get...

So will you leave me a supportive message opposite? Unfortunately you can't do this without making a donation as well! Whether small or larger, it will go into the Robbie fund at the Royal Berks Charity and will then be used for the remaining payments for this great piece of equipment, which enables the operation to be performed in a much less invasive way (hence I was home again in 48 hours).

As for my amateur performance, do drop in to hear some of it if you are within reach of Bracknell – though space could be limited, and please don't bring a critical ear: there will be much music to enjoy, but also some that's a real challenge (and will undoubtedly sound like it). Here's the timetable, 3 to 6pm each day:

  Mon 26 March: sonatas 1, 2, 3, 4  [collected: £46]

  Wed 28 March: sonatas 5, 6, 7, 8 (Pathétique), 9  [collected: £22.50]

  Fri 30 March: sonatas 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 (Moonlight)  [collected: £3.50]

  Thurs 5 April: sonatas 15 (Pastoral), 16, 17 (Tempest), 18  [collected: £7]

  Sat 7 April: sonatas 19, 20, 21 (Waldstein), 22, 23 (Appassionata)  [collected: £27.50]

  Tue 10 April: sonatas 24, 25, 26 (Les Adieux), 27, 28, 29 (Hammerklavier) – 1st movement)   [collected: £82.70]

  Thurs 12 April: sonatas 29 – remaining movements, 30, 31, 32  [collected: £68.80]

Before coming, do check this webpage again just in case any dates have had to change.

I ought to say that I'm extremely grateful to South Hill Park for freely allowing me to occupy their Recital Room for this venture, in between the other musical events, conferences and private functions (weddings, even!) that it is used for.

Thank you to everyone, not least all the urology medics (still needed, in spite of having Robbie) at the Royal Berks!