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Leeds Charlie Chaplin song row goes to Commons
An MP who used to work for Martin House has vowed to help a schoolgirl at the centre of a row over a Charlie Chaplin video.
Horsforth and Pudsey MP Stuart Andrew, former head of fundraising at the children's hospice, said he would try to raise Bethany Hare's case at a Culture, Media and Sports question time in the House of Commons today.
* Click here to watch latest YEP news and sport video reports.
As reported in the YEP, 10-year-old Bethany was aiming to raise 5,000 for Martin House with her video of Smile, in which she dresses as Charlie Chaplin and sings her own version of the uplifting song.
* Click here to view the YEP picture galleries of Leeds Nostalgia.
But mum Yvonne was forced to remove the sound from charity website Just Giving after bosses from Bourne Music in New York asked her to hand over $2,000 to keep the song online.
Mr Andrew, MP for the Horsforth family, said: "How mean-spirited of a multi-national company to have a go at somebody who's so young wanting to help young people of her age group.
"It's terrible, that's the worst part of the music industry showing its face.
"I need to raise this issue and I am going to write a letter to the company and say how disgusted I am that they are trying to make money out of a young girl who is just trying to help other children."
Bethany's story has travelled to all four corners of the globe, with more than 100 wellwishers leaving donations on her webpage.
Since the YEP broke the story last week, almost 2,500 has been collected, taking the total amount raised to more than 4,100.
Alyson Wort, head of fundraising at Martin House, told the YEP that the hospice was "overwhelmed" by the worldwide publicity.
She said: "Bethany is a wonderful example of a young girl striving to make a difference for other children.
"Who would have believed that the publicity gained in the last 48 hours would result in donations flooding in from all parts of the globe.
"We have had donations and messages from places as far apart as America and Singapore.
"We would like to thank everyone who is helping Bethany reach her target – I know she is as overwhelmed by this support as we are."
If the copyright issue cannot be resolved, the Hare family are hoping to find some new music for Bethany's video.
* To make a donation or to watch Bethany's video without sound, visit: www.justgiving.com/smile-bethanyhare
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Friday 25 May 2012
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