Exclusive charity record will benefit bereavement-related charities in Warwick and Balsall Common

My Darling is the new track written and recorded by MOBO-nominated musician Sandra Godley in aid of  Molly Olly’s Wishes based in Hatton Park, Surviving Bereavement based in Balsall Common and Coventry and Warwickshire Mind.
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AN award-winning singer songwriter has released a new single close to her heart to raise funds and awareness for three charities in Coventry and Warwickshire including one in Warwick and another in Balsall Common.

My Darling is the exclusive new track written and recorded by MOBO-nominated musician Sandra Godley in aid of Molly Olly’s Wishes based in Hatton Park, Surviving Bereavement based in Balsall Common and Coventry and Warwickshire Mind.

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It is a particularly poignant piece of work for the Coventry musician and local BBC radio host, Sandra, who is still grieving the loss of her own aunt to Covid-19 in April last year.

Tracey McAtamney, of The Surviving Bereavement Foundation, listens to Sandra Godley sing.Tracey McAtamney, of The Surviving Bereavement Foundation, listens to Sandra Godley sing.
Tracey McAtamney, of The Surviving Bereavement Foundation, listens to Sandra Godley sing.

She said: “This track is based on conversations that I’d had with people like Tracey and others who survived having lost people and having had a year out to think about that.

“Because I work in broadcasting people are telling me their stories of loss and grief and anguish all the time. I got to the point where I thought, what do I do with all this? This is a real situation and I need to help as many people as I can.

“I wrote the lyrics for this hoping it would offer some kind of comfort and a way of journeying these next few months and years.

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"What I’ve found is that a lot of people haven’t been able to talk about it because they haven’t been able to physically go and see someone in the family during the grieving process.”

Rachel Ollerenshaw of Molly Olly's Wishes with the charity's mascot Olly The Brave and a story book about the character.Rachel Ollerenshaw of Molly Olly's Wishes with the charity's mascot Olly The Brave and a story book about the character.
Rachel Ollerenshaw of Molly Olly's Wishes with the charity's mascot Olly The Brave and a story book about the character.

The single, which has been produced by Matt Cossey of The Nexus Institute of Creative Arts in Coventry, is being funded by an anonymous sponsor and supported by Alsters Kelley solicitors and Coventry’s The Telegraph Hotel - the host of an official launch event on National Grief Awareness Day, on August 30th.

Some of the proceeds will go to Molly Olly’s Wishes, which was established in 2011 following the death of Rachel and Tim Ollerenshaw’s eight-year-old daughter Molly from a rare kidney cancer.

It works to support children with terminal or life-limiting illnesses and their families and help with their emotional wellbeing as well as grant wishes and donate therapeutic toys and books to both children directly and to hospitals throughout the UK.

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The mascot of the charity is a therapeutic toy lion called Olly The Brave who has his own Hickman line and a detachable mane which helps to explain and normalise the effects of chemotherapy.

MOBO-Award nominated musician Sandra Godley.MOBO-Award nominated musician Sandra Godley.
MOBO-Award nominated musician Sandra Godley.

These form part of an Olly The Brave pack that has now been handed out to more than 40 hospitals, along with a book from the charity’s exclusive Olly The Brave series.

Rachel said: “The death of someone close to us is hard at any time but the restrictions and effects of the pandemic have made the grieving process all the more difficult.

“Raising awareness of the struggle and the enormity of loss and how it affects us all differently and providing support through these challenging times is so important.

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“Molly Olly’s Wishes work with families who sadly have a child at end of life and help them to create memories and support their emotional wellbeing and we are extremely grateful to Sandra. It is a beautiful song and we hope it helps highlight the awareness of loss and the work of charities.”

Through the work of The Surviving Bereavement Foundation, Tracey McAtamney has helped many others through their journey with grief by offering legal and financial advice as well as practical and emotional support.

Tracey, from Balsall Common, established the Foundation 16 years after herself being widowed with two sons at the age of just 38. Her husband Tony had died suddenly in his hotel room while on a golfing holiday in Spain.

As part of the Foundation’s growth, she also recently qualified as a Grief Recovery Specialist, using an actioned evidenced-based programme for moving beyond death, divorce and other losses including health and career.

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The past year has also seen a huge rise in demand for her personalised Memory Boxes, which contain specially chosen items that celebrate the life of a lost loved one.

She said: “During lockdown I delivered or posted 136 free Memory Boxes or Bags to children and young adults. I realised with us coming out of the pandemic we needed a way to reach more people. Music is that way - Sandra’s song is one of hope for all of those people grieving due to the loss of loved ones, many of which were unable to say goodbye.

“I am so grateful to Sandra for putting the words on paper and then adding her voice – it is beautiful. The track could have been written for me when my husband died and I was unable to say goodbye 16 years ago!”

“I am hoping that the song will provide hope for many and that by downloading it, will ensure that more children and young adults will continue to receive free Memory Boxes.”

My Darling is available now to download for 79p.

Click here to download to track via the music app of your choice: https://ditto.fm/my-darling-sandra-godley-featuring-matt-cossey

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