Songwriter donates music which featured on US TV show Grey's Anatomy to Leeds charity's Christmas video

Critically-acclaimed singer/songwriter Richard Walters has donated one of his tracks, called ‘I Won't’, free of charge to the Leeds charity - which supports the congenital heart unit at Leeds General Infirmary - for use in their annual festive fundraising videothis year.

The poignant track has featured in a past episode of hit TV show Grey’s Anatomy and was also co-written and produced by BRIT award-winning and Grammy-nominated producer Edd Holloway, who has worked with artists including Lewis Capaldi.

Richard, 38, whose music has also featured on US shows including Bones, CSI: Miami, Criminal Minds and Revenge, told the Yorkshire Evening Post he was delighted to help the charity.

“[The request] came via my label and we were given the lowdown on the charity and they are doing incredible work and desperately need more support at the moment. I saw the film and thought it looked great and was really happy to be involved.”

The film, which features families and staff on the congenital heart unit as well as drone footage of Leeds, follows a young boy as he decides to donate to Children's Heart Surgery Fund (CHSF) after a chat with his dad - played by the movie’s creator Alex Searle, of Lake Productions, and his son Lake.

Richard, who lives in Hampshire, said the story behind the film works well with his song, which was written after he completed some counselling training with a view to working in musical therapy.

“I wrote the song around that time - that idea of being able to lend someone support and show empathy felt really important.”

He added: “The film is really moving, I think it’s beautiful. It feels really impactful, I think they’ve done an amazing job.”

Richard, whose last gig before lockdown was coincidentally at Leeds’ Brudenell Social Club with his band LYR, said this year, with the Covid-19 pandemic, has made lots of people realise they could do more to help others where they can.

“And this is such a small thing, it felt like an easy thing to get involved with. A really nice thing to be involved with - a little bit of light in it all,” he added.

Bosses at Leeds’ Children’s Heart Surgery Fund hope the video - which has the title 'Give the gift of life this Christmas with CHSF' - will help inspire more people to pledge donations through direct debit - providing a regular channel of funding and helping the charity to plan for the future.

Andy McNally, CHSF’s marketing manager, said: “We are incredibly grateful to everyone who has helped put CHSF’s Christmas video together - at no cost to the charity.

“Richard’s beautiful song is all about supporting those who need it, and we think it will resonate with a lot of readers.

“Please watch it with the volume turned up and share it with as many people as you can.

“The effect of COVID-19 means we need public support now more than ever.”

The charity’s plans for next year include an expansion of equipment including home blood-testing kits for children, more self-testing heart monitors, grants for struggling families during any hospital stays and an increase in support offered to adult heart patients.

Andy added: “Next year promises to be an even bigger challenge, and regular donations really help us plan for the future, knowing we have the income to fund our vision.”

Visit www.chsf.org.uk/donate.

*YEP's Have a Heart campaign

The Yorkshire Evening Post launched a Have a Heart campaign earlier this year, to help the Children's Heart Surgery Fund (CHSF) reach its £1m target for donations in 2020.

Since the coronavirus pandemic hit, CHSF has been forced to issue an urgent plea for donations after losing a "significant portion" of its yearly income.

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