Teenage singer lauded as she helps charity to the tune of ten grand

Feb 5 2009 By Peter Carroll

Emma Hale

CHARITY bosses have praised teenage singer Emma Hale who raised 10 grand in one night to help build a new hospice.

The 17-year-old teamed up with the David Farrell Jazz Orchestra at west end venue Oran Mor last October and wowed kind-hearted punters into splashing their cash.

The amazing amount will go towards Marie Curie's Big Build Appeal to open a new cancer hospice in Springburn.

Marie Curie representatives say Emma is the youngest person to have raised such an amount of money in one night.

The Cumbernauld singer/songwriter said: "I'm so pleased I can use my talent to help others. I love music and performing, and to be able to raise funds for such a worthwhile cause is fantastic.

"I'm really proud to have raised more than £10,000 for the appeal and look forward to seeing this new facility when it opens."

The Marie Curie Big Build Appeal was started April 2007 to raise funds to replace the Glasgow hospice in Springburn with a new £16.1 million, state-of-the-art facility.

So far £12.6 million has been raised for the project and the new hospice will be up and running by 2010. Marie Curie Cancer Care has two hospices in Scotland - the Springburn site and another in Edinburgh. The charity offers end of life care for people with cancer and support for their families.

Gemma McDonald, of Marie Curie Cancer Care, said Emma and David's hard work to raise the £10,010 for the hospice appealwas inspirational to other fundraisers.

She said: "It's inspirational to see someone so young and talented organise such a big fundraiser and then go on to be the youngest person to have raised more than £10,000 for the appeal.

"She is a real inspiration and we owe her and David many thanks for their dedication in fundraising for Marie Curie and providing a massive boost for us."

For further information visit: www.bigbuild.org.uk, or call the Glasgow hospice on: 531 1383.

To be able to raise funds for such a worthwhile cause is fantastic