Heartfelt song penned after pandemic losses to raise money for Warwickshire charities - The Stratford Observer

Heartfelt song penned after pandemic losses to raise money for Warwickshire charities

Stratford Editorial 17th Aug, 2021 Updated: 19th Aug, 2021   0

A HEARTFELT song written by a musician impacted by Covid is set to raise funds for Coventry and Warwickshire charities.

Coventry singer songwriter and BBC radio host Sandra Godley has released ‘My Darling’ to raise funds and awareness for Surviving Bereavement, children’s charity Molly Olly’s Wishes and Coventry and Warwickshire Mind.

In collaboration with Surviving Bereavement Founder, Tracey McAtamney, the project draws much-needed focus on the increasing mental health problems post-pandemic.

Sandra, who is still grieving the loss of her own aunt to Covid last year, 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. 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.”


Some of the proceeds will benefit Warwick-based charity Molly Olly’s Wishes and local mental health charity Coventry and Warwickshire Mind.

Molly Olly’s Wishes 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 as well as grant wishes and donate therapeutic toys and books.

Rachel Ollerenshaw 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.

“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.”

Mental health charity, Coventry and Warwickshire Mind is part of the national Mind organisation – delivering services and support for people with mental health problems.

Local branch CEO Stephen Hill said the lockdown increased the sense of anxiety, isolation, and hopelessness, particularly for those living alone.

He added: “The impact of this isolation, added to the trauma of loss and bereavement experienced across Coventry and Warwickshire, has exaggerated mental health issues for many, leaving them desperate for support at a time of mental health crisis.”

My Darling is available now to download for 79p.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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