A Christmas single recorded in Sherborne will raise money to help parents at the worst of times.
Santa Leave Something For Me was written by Dorset’s Benjamin Francis after his son Oscar was born with his intestines on the outside of his body and had to be put into a coma to recover after lifesaving surgery. Now nine years old, Oscar helped his dad, who goes by the name Seeking Benjamin, record the track at Mill Farm Studios in Sherborne, produced by Tom Joblin.
The track will raise money for Cots for Tots and The Wallace and Gromit Grand Appeal in Bristol, which helped the family so much in 2013. Oscar spent four months in hospital in Bristol, with his parents by his side while he battled to recover from surgery to correct gastroschisis.
Oscar had several operations at Bristol’s Royal Hospital For Children. Through his tricky recovery, Ben and Charlotte were given support by the charity Cots for Tots and stayed in their house for four months, with support from other families of very poorly babies, until Oscar was able to return home.
Nine years later his dad, a singer-songwriter, wrote a track to thank the two organisations for their crucial support.
Benjamin’s debut single Marry Me recently featured on BBC Upload, and has had more than 500 radio plays worldwide to date. Santa Leave Something For Me is released on November 18.
Cots for Tots runs three accommodation houses that provide a safe and supportive place for families to stay in while their child is in hospital. It also funds state-of-the-art equipment to save little lives.
To donate, or just buy the track, go to seeking benjamin.co.uk or download the song at Bandcamp.