With 17 babies stillborn or dying shortly after birth every day in UK, singing sensation releases ‘Anthems of Hope’ for Charity
With an incredible 17 babies being stillborn or dying shortly after birth every day in the UK, 18 year old singing sensation, Steve Sims, has recorded three ‘anthems of hope’ in support of Sands Why 17? Campaign and aims to place the often taboo subject of stillbirth firmly in the public domain.
Sands, the Stillbirth and Neonatal Death charity, is working with Gloucester-based Steve Sims, who is hoping that the message behind his songs will stir enough people to encourage them to download one or all three of his tracks, and for him to reach No.1.
Steve says, ‘You just have to mention stillbirth and everybody knows somebody, within the family, or a friend, that has been affected. I got involved through friends at sixth form as their mum, Michelle Dimery, runs Sands in Gloucestershire and her son, Christopher, died in1987, having lived for just 7 hours.
‘Singing is my world and I hope that my version of these three famous songs will touch a chord with everyone who has suffered the loss of a child. We’ve chosen to record tracks that helped Michelle through her bleakest moments and which were, as she says ‘anthems of hope’. I just want to say please, everyone go and download them now and raise heaps of money for Sands’ Why 17? Campaign.
‘Money raised will go towards much needed research into why so many babies are dying every day.’
The songs Steve has recorded are: ‘Everything I Own’, originally recorded by Bread; Abba’s ‘I have a Dream’ and ‘Feeling Good’ made famous by Nina Simone.
The songs can be downloaded at iTunes, Amazon and Napster, as well as many other sites, and an average of 49p from every downloaded track goes directly to Sands Why 17? Campaign.
The tracks are also available for download from Orange, Vodafone and Virgin Mobile. You can hear the tracks by going to www.stevesimsreflections.co.uk and clicking on the second butterfly, which will take you through to a link where you can listen to the songs.
The facts today:
• 17 babies die every day in the UK (10 are stillbirths, 7 are neonatal deaths) totalling almost 6,500 baby deaths a year - the equivalent of 16 jumbo jets crashing every year with no survivors.
• This is four times the number of people who die every year of MRSA (1,593 MRSA deaths in 2007, UK Statistics Authority).
• This is double the number of adults who lose their lives on Britain’s roads every year (2007 – 2,940 people were killed on the roads, Department of Transport).
• Ten times more babies are stillborn than die of cot death every year in the UK.
• The stillbirth rate has remained almost unchanged for the past 10 years.
Steve Sims concludes, ’Seventeen babies dying every day is totally unacceptable and I hope that by recording these tracks it helps highlight the issue of stillbirth and neonatal death and raises much needed funds for research to prevent so many babies dying.’
4 Nov 2009 |
SANDS - Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Charity
