Fareham singer, 9, lends her voice to NHS and NSPCC charity single featuring children across the UK

A choir of children up and down the country has been formed to pay tribute to the hardworking people keeping our country going during the pandemic.

After seeing the appeal on Facebook, nine-year-old Megan Nicholls worked hard to perform the classic You Raise Me Up to join the charity appeal.

Megan said: ‘It was difficult for me and it took a few tries but I got there in the end and I am really looking forward to hearing the end result.’

Set up by Brendan O’Neill from Derbyshire, 1,000 Young Voices’ song will raise funds for NHS Charities Together and the NSPCC.

Megan added: ‘I think it's an awesome idea to raise money for charity and I feel very proud to be part of it.’

Mum Donna Nicholls found the appeal and encouraged musical theatre performer Megan to join in with the efforts to give thanks.

Donna said: ‘I think it’s lovely. There’s not really much going on in their lives at the moment, I just thought it would be nice for her to look back and say she was part of that.’

All of the children involved in the charity effort recorded their own piece at home, before sending it off to be mixed into the finished track.

Brendan, who runs Midlands Music Services, is planning to launch the single on Valentine’s Day on Sunday to spread some love to NHS staff and key workers.

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The 41-year-old, who hopes to raise £2,000 for the charities, said: ‘My team and I have been discussing at length how we could continue to bring music to the homes of our children.

‘We came up with the idea of setting up a virtual choir for children aged six to 16 to sing the well-known hit You Raise Me Up.

‘We’re delighted to have Megan with us to sing for our heroes, forming a virtual choir with children from all over the UK.’

For more information and to purchase the single when it is released, follow facebook.com/1000youngvoices for updates.

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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