Salisbury Hospice is to benefit from one of Take That’s most popular live hits. Hold Up A Light, is being re-released as a fundraising tribute to the mum of it’s co- writer - and their huge fanbase is being encouraged to support it
Hold Up A Light has long been a fans’ favourite at the band’s gigs - a reworked version is being released as a single to support Salisbury Hospice who cared for Linda Brown when she died from cancer last year.
Her son Jamie first penned the track with Take That’s, Mark Owen, Gary Barlow, Howard Donald, Jason Orange and fellow writer Ben Mark. The original was released as a single in 2009 from their number one album, The Circus, quickly becoming a crowd-pleaser on their bestselling tour and starring Mark on lead vocals.
Now Mark and Jamie Norton have recorded a stripped-back update of Hold Up A Light, alongside pupils from Grasmere Primary in North London including Jamie’s sons Ned, nine, and Miller, six. Everyone involved in the track’s, and associated video and artwork, creation has given their time for free. All profits are being split evenly between the Salisbury Hospice Charity, and the Stoke Newington school’s FROGS appeal to build an outdoor play space.
Take That’s Mark said “When my good friend and collaborator, Jamie Norton, asked me to be involved in re- recording ‘Hold Up A Light’ to raise money for the hospice where his mum spent her final weeks, I absolutely wanted to help in any way that I could. Since then this project has grown and grown and I’d like to wish him the best of luck with his first marathon run, and hope the project raises lots of pennies for the associated charities.”
'Hold Up A Light' will be available from Friday April 26 on all download and streaming services. Two days later Jamie is due to run the Virgin Money London Marathon to raise more money for the hospice where his singing teacher mum turned 71 just days before she died. With the hospice relying on charitable donations in order to be able to operate, it’s a cause that’s both deeply personal to Jamie, and vitally important to numerous families.
Paula Flower, Head of Fundraising at Salisbury Hospice Charity said “It’s difficult to put into words how grateful we are to Jamie, not only for running the London Marathon on our behalf, but also for inspiring Mark Owen and the children from Grasmere Primary School to record this special track, in memory of his mum.”
Jamie hit on the idea of the charity single and accompanying video as he struggled to come up with a message for his JustGiving fundraising web page. He said: “‘Hold Up A Light’ was being used in the Christmas Show at my sons’ school. Listening to the song again and hearing children singing it, it seemed more apt than anything I could say just in words. I’m incredibly grateful to Mark and the children for their time and talents, and hope that we can raise some vital funds through this release.
“The song is dedicated to anyone who holds up a light, including all the Marathon runners who are raising money for causes close to their hearts.”
The song is available to download via iTunes from Friday 26th April.
For more information: www.salisburyhospicecharity.org.uk