LambethNews

Medics at hospital which saved Prime Minister’s life put out single to raise cash for NHS charities

Toby Porter
Nurses and doctors who saved Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s life have put out a charity single to raise money for NHS causes.
More than 100 staff of Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS have created a recording of Mariah Carey’s ‘Anytime You Need a Friend’.
The recording, a tribute to NHS workers, has been tweeted by Mariah Carey herself, saying that it ‘brought her to tears’.

More than 100 musicians and singers from across the world came together to produce the track – this involved Guy’s and St. Thomas’s NHS staff choir and NHS charity Breathe Harmony and the choir of the MyCool Music Foundation, with friends and family from the UK, USA, Barbados, Canada, Italy, Spain, Poland, South Africa, Australia, France, Belgium and Greece getting involved.

Each member joined weekly virtual rehearsals, submitting individual home recordings on their mobile phones, to create a global message of solidarity. The track was then produced by MyCool Music Foundation Director Mike King, who has worked with some of the most famous musical artists in the world, including Mark Ronson, Florence and the Machine and Boy George.

Celebrity couple and actors Jim Carter and Imelda Staunton have shown their support for ‘Anytime You Need a Friend’ a new single by Breathe Harmony NHS choir & Friends, in hope the track will make the charts to celebrate the inspiring work of the NHS amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

Breathe celebrity patrons, Jim Carter and Imelda Staunton said: “We are huge supporters of the work of Breathe Arts Health Research. As actors we know the value that the arts have on our own health and wellbeing, and so during the coronavirus crisis, we need the sense of hope and community that the arts can provide more than ever.

“We love the Breathe Harmony & Friends track, Anytime You Need A Friend, as its words resonate with communities around the world right now, as together we face this global pandemic. We urge everyone to get behind our multi-talented NHS and download this track to help celebrate our NHS staff and spread Breathe’s message of global solidarity during these difficult times.”

The choir, called Breathe Harmony, was recorded by Breathe Arts Health Research, in partnership with Musical Director Mike King and MyCool Music Foundation.
Small charities like Breathe Arts Health Research and MyCool Music Foundation will be the hardest hit by the COVID-19 crisis. To make sure these vital services continue to exist, all proceeds from the single will be divided between Breathe Arts Health Research and MyCool Foundation to enable the charities to deliver their arts and health projects to patients and NHS staff, and support the NHS with arts services all year-round.

Breathe Arts Health Research’s founder and managing director, Yvonne Farquharson said: “It is fantastic to get the support from our wonderful Patrons Jim and Imelda for this single, which was created to show our support and appreciation for the NHS and frontline workers. Breathe are a multi-award winning social enterprise who work in partnership with the NHS year-round to provide healthcare programmes which use the arts to support and improve health and wellbeing. During this particularly challenging time, where many people are feeling isolated and fearful, it’s more important than ever to be uplifted and brought together through the arts and to offer our gratitude to the NHS to help them feel supported, appreciated and loved.”

Fionnuala Donovan, Guy’s and St Thomas Highly specialist neurophysiotherapist and Breathe Harmony member, who is the first singer to appear on the track said: “As always the choir and singing has added a little bit of light to my life, something which is particularly needed during these dark times of uncertainty. I hope this song spreads that light to everyone else that watches it.”

Mike King, musical director of Breathe Harmony said: “Singing is not only fantastic for physical and mental health and wellbeing, but it brings people together. At a time when people have never felt so isolated and alone, when hope is in short supply, I wanted to create an opportunity for people around the world to connect and have something positive to focus on. However, this wasn’t only meant to benefit those who took part in the experience but for the song itself to bring hope and comfort to those effected by the coronavirus and show our appreciation to the NHS and all those working on the front line.”

Download on iTunes and Amazon Music: https://amzn.to/3clBmDz and https://apple.co/3bdfdqW

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