An ex-record company executive has made an urgent appeal for donations for a new charity single to ensure “every call for help from a child in need is answered”.
Robert Page, of Waterman’s Way, North Weald, has until July 7 to raise £5,000 to record a new version of cult Belgian singer Jacques Brel’s ‘If We Only Have Love’.
With stars from West End musicals including Phantom of the Opera and Les Miserables involved, producer Mr Page plans to release the track to raise money for the NSPCC’s Childline.
He originally had the idea to re-record the track in the 1970s as an A&R manager for Pye, where he worked with artists such as Barry White.
He said: “It is a fantastic song and I know exactly how to do it.
“When I was recording myself, I was always looking for the artist to do it, then I found the cause.
“I got fed-up of the child abuse I kept on hearing about every day.
“There was one in particular that cut me up.”
In 2007, Mr Page read about the horrifying details of the death of Leticia Wright, a four-year-old girl who was murdered by her mother and her partner in their Huddersfield home.
“After reading about that I thought ‘You have to do something’.
“If only that child had access to a phone, that she knew the number.
“So many mistakes were made and she did not get the chance to enjoy her life, that is what tipped me to do something.”
Eight years later and following a series of heart problems, the retired Mr Page is on the cusp of completing his project but only has two weeks to raise the funds he needs from a current total of £85.
“It is an all-or-nothing kind of fundraiser,” he said.
“I started doing it five years ago and then I had some heart problems one after the other, which set the whole thing back.
“It has constantly been there, nagging to get it done.”
Despite setbacks and the impending deadline, Mr Page is dedicated to completing his project with the aim of ensuring future generations of children get the help they need.
“Childline get so many calls, they have got thousands of counsellors but an absurd number of calls go unanswered.
“Every call that goes unanswered is a child’s cry for help that goes unheard.
“They need to be heard.”
To donate to Mr Page’s project, visit his fundraising site.
Mr Page hopes to create a well-known charity single for Childline
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