Chesterfield radio star Becky Measures records family song for charity

Radio star Becky Measures has stepped to the other side of the mic to sing with young daughter Eva-May and inspirational mum Wendy Watson on a breast cancer helpline charity single.
Thank You (It's Because of You) new National Hereditary Breast Cancer Helpline charity single  from Wendy Watson, Eva May and Becky MeasuresThank You (It's Because of You) new National Hereditary Breast Cancer Helpline charity single  from Wendy Watson, Eva May and Becky Measures
Thank You (It's Because of You) new National Hereditary Breast Cancer Helpline charity single from Wendy Watson, Eva May and Becky Measures

Thank You (It's Because of You) - out now through Steelworks Studios Sheffield - thanks health workers who have helped them to save thousands of lives with the National Hereditary Breast Cancer Helpline.

LISTEN: The song, sponsored by Panache Lingerie, is available on all major streaming platforms is available on all streaming services including Spotify – CLICK HERE.

It celebrates 25- years work of the National Hereditary Breast Cancer Helpline, founded by Wendy, now 66 after she became one of the first people in the country to have a double mastectomy as a precautionary measure to avoid breast cancer, following the deaths of her grandmother and mother from the disease.

Daughter Becky, 40 , of Brampton, Chesterfield, a regular presenter on Radio Sheffield, also underwent the same radical surgery at the age of 24. Also singing on the record is her eight-year-old daughter, Eva May.

They also believe they are one of the first three generation family to defy the odds and beat what they feel was a certain fate, to still be together today.

Over the past 25-years the helpline, which provides a national 24-hour service, has taken more than 100,000 calls and changed the lives of 100,000’s of people.

HELPLINE: For NHBCH advice call the helpline on 01629 813000 – visit www.breastcancergenetics.co.uk, follow on Facebook at www.facebook.com/NHBCH and Twitter: @nhbch.

Now grandma, mum and grand-daughter are releasing the single to tell the astonishing story of the helpline and the family’s history.as a thank you to doctors who believed Wendy that breast cancer could harbour a hereditary gene and helped medics to pioneer new genetic services.

A music video for the record shows the three of them in the recording studio, but also features photos of families who have been touched by the disease and helped by the charity.

Becky, who also worked as breakfast host on Peak FM Chesterfield for 15-years, hopes the heartfelt, emotional song will make more people aware of the charity helpline while also marking an astonishing anniversary.

Becky wrote Thank You (It's Because of You) with acclaimed music producer Scott Ford,

But the single came about after she shared her dream to record it with Sheffield Steelworks Studio based Grammy Award winning friend Eliot Kennedy, who has produced and written hits for everyone from Aretha Franklin to Bryan Adams, Take That and The Spice Girls, who has also raised thousands for good causes with charity concerts and recordings.

"One day the words just came. I said to Eliot Kennedy I had written a song and here we are today. Emotional doesn't quite cover it,” said Becky.

Proud of all her mum has achieved and daughter Eva-May's involvement in the charity song, she added: "There’s a realisation, when looking at my little girl and the bond she has with my mum, her mama, that things could have been very different if mum hadn’t pushed for the surgery and pioneered the operation all those years ago.

"Not just for our family but for many families across the globe. It’s quite overwhelming.

National Hereditary Breast Cancer Helpline founder Wendy WatsonNational Hereditary Breast Cancer Helpline founder Wendy Watson
National Hereditary Breast Cancer Helpline founder Wendy Watson

Wendy, of Wingerworth, in Chesterfield said: “This song has really captured for me the enormity of what has actually been achieved over the 25-years, I’m humbled and thrilled.”

The song’s co-writer Scott Ford revealed: "I wrote the piano piece in Waterloo station actually, on their piano. It was a moment of pure inspiration and I feel it is a beautiful piece to have composed.

"I’ve worked with Becky before, on previous musical endeavours and we have a great rapport, so it was an honour to get involved."

Jane Ledsom, a backing singer on the single, lost her mum to cancer. She said: “I’ve known of the BRCA gene through friends that have been affected but had no idea of Wendy’s life changing actions.

She said: "I lost my mum to skin cancer and leaned heavily on the charities available to me at the time & know how invaluable they are. Recording this song with the three generations, singing their story, was very personal to them so being allowed to be part of this was very touching & beyond special.”

Leicester based Dr Julian Barwell, a Clinical Genetics Consultant, said of the helpline: “The NHBCH is an invaluable service to the community. It is clear that the helpline has directly helped many thousands of women in the UK and indirectly; many hundreds of thousands throughout Europe, keeping families together for longer.

Thank You (It's Because of You) National Hereditary Breast Cancer Helpline charity single out nowThank You (It's Because of You) National Hereditary Breast Cancer Helpline charity single out now
Thank You (It's Because of You) National Hereditary Breast Cancer Helpline charity single out now

"The helpline has been built over the past 25 years; around the triad of Wendy’s vision; Becky’s infectious positivity and enthusiasm and Professor Gareth Evan’s conviction and unsurpassed expertise in hereditary breast cancer. The hope of the NHBCH is epitomised through this charity single – science keeps us alive long enough to express ourselves through the arts."

The song was premiered at the sold out NHBCH 25th anniversary ball at the Technique Stadium last month.

LINKS:

Helpline: 01629 813000

Twitter: @nhbch

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