AN Ely singer-songwriter is releasing a new single to raise money for children’s cancer charity CLIC Sargent after being inspired by a teenager with leukaemia.
Mark Ellis, a member of the band Hamfatter, who secured a deal with Peter Jones on the show Dragons’ Den, will be performing the song Carry You at the LodeStar Festival in Cambridge, which runs from August 30-September 1.
He was inspired to write the track after his friend Emma Day was given the devastating news that her younger sister Molly, 14, had leukaemia.
Emma, 24, has just donated bone marrow to Molly in hospital in Bristol and the whole family is being supported by CLIC Sargent, the UK’s leading cancer charity for children and young people.
Carry You is all about how much Mark wants to support Emma and her family through such a difficult time.
He said: “In the last 18 months I’ve been focusing on what I’m really trying to say with my songs, what they actually mean rather than made-up stories.
“Carry You came out of this and I actually found it effortless to write. It’s such an emotional thing for everybody involved.
“In the song I’m telling myself off for thinking about myself too much. It’s a sweet song for everyone else but a bit of a telling off for me. To me there’s no purer way to say something than personally through a song.
“The idea to donate the money to charity came along later once we had experienced what it was like in CLIC Sargent’s Home from Home Sam’s House. I just wanted to give something back.”
Molly is now recovering in hospital after her bone marrow transplant. Her sister Emma said: “I don't know what we would have all done if it wasn't for CLIC Sargent. They have been fantastic ever since Molly was diagnosed last May, with practical and emotional support.
“Bristol is a long way from Cambridgeshire so being able to stay free of charge in their Home from Home near the hospital means that we can be close together for Molly during the coming weeks."
Mark will be performing Carry You at the LodeStar festival on September 1 and the single is to be released on iTunes.
Proceeds will go to CLIC Sargent while the organisers of Lodestar are also making a donation to the charity.
Three other bands, each with members who have been treated for cancer, are joining a great festival line-up.
Published on 16 August 2013 by Ben Robinson
