Charity song bids to aid Alzheimer’s sufferers
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A MOVING musical tribute inspired by a Moray woman’s love for her Alzheimer’s-stricken mother is being released as a charity recording in a bid to raise awareness of the disease.
Tish Tindall wrote the emotional song, ‘Release (I Remember)’, to make money for a charity supporting Diane Aspinall – her co-director at Lossiemouth performing arts college, Rock Academy – whose mother suffers from dementia.
The track has been picked up by top London music executive Mike Murphy, and could become a CD and download hit in the new year.
It tells the story of Diane’s mum, Susan Parker, who was just 57 when she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia. Now aged 63, her condition has deteriorated severely and she is in the final stages of the disease.
Tish wrote the song at Easter, 2010, after accompanying Diane on a visit to hospital and noticing the difference that Diane’s appearance made to Susan.
She describes the song as a tribute to the relationship between a mother and daughter that “transcends the impact of dementia”.
“People ask me if I wrote it because of my relationship with Diane, but I wrote it because I saw somebody who gave her life to her mother,” Tish said.
“My own dad died at 59 from cancer, and we had nine weeks to say goodbye to him. Alzheimer’s takes that away from you.”
Through her connection with live booking agency Mission Control, Tish was introduced to producer Mike Murphy, and along with Diane, was invited to travel to London to record the track.
And permission was given by the Alzheimer’s Society charity to use the release of the song in mid-January to raise money for – and awareness of – dementia.
The song was premiered in Moray during the Lossiemouth panto, ‘A Christmas Toy Box’, which is being produced and performed by students and staff from Rock Academy.
The show began last Wednesday – when a collection was made for Alzheimer Scotland – and will continue until Christmas Eve when the finale will be a matinee performance at 2pm.
‘Release (I Remember)’ will be available to buy as a single (CD and download) from mid-January, with a significant proportion of proceeds going to the charity.
