Ilness inspires Willenhall man's charity single

Wayne Swift, aged 45, performs as a Michael Bublé tribute act and was struck by the news that Mr Bublé's son, Noah, had been diagnosed with liver cancer.

Now he hopes his project, on which 40 of his singer friends feature, will be a contender for the Christmas number one single.

Mr Swift, of Honeybourne Way in Willenhall, was inspired by the sad news to record their version of We Are The World and raise money for the Children with Cancer UK charity.

He said: "I don't know why it came to me but thought it was an amazing song to do.

"Any money is good money. We would love to get £10,000, £20,000. Because we have had such interest we are hoping to get in on iTunes before Christmas."

The song was first written in 1985 by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie, raising tens of millions of dollars for the USA for Africa appeal. Singers who appeared on that version included Jackson, Richie, Stevie Wonder, Paul Simon and Diana Ross. Mr Swift added: "I am friends with a lot of singers. Over the years we have got to know each other through that. When I put the original post on Facebook, I was just inundated." All singers were able to record for free at the Neon Sound Studios in Burntwood. They were also used by the 40-strong Neon Brotherhood, who recorded Hope Ain't a Bad Thing in memory of Burntwood teenager Stephen Sutton. Mr Swift recently returned from Spain after performing in a Take That tribute band.

For more information on the project, visit facebook.com/vocalistsfightingchild cancer.