BLIND man Antoine Reeves hopes to spread a little joy to poorly children this Christmas by releasing a festive single.
But in order for the song to help as many youngsters as possible Antoine needs help getting it released and distributed.
Antoine, who has been blind since birth, has spent years writing the perfect song to bring happiness and hope to children everywhere.
The 52-year-old’s finished product is called I Still Believe In Father Christmas, a song about all of the things – such as Santa and snow – that make Christmas magical.
Antoine, of Salendine Nook, hopes his tune will lift people’s spirits and, most importantly, help sick children in need.
Proceeds raised from the single will go to the West Yorkshire Forget Me Not Trust, which is working to build a children’s respite centre and hospice for children with life-threatening illnesses at Brackenhall.
Antoine, who works as a clairvoyant, said his song has been a work in progress since the idea came to him on a snowy day just before Christmas, 1995.
He didn’t finish it until recently, when he decided that he wanted to release the song to help a children’s charity.
He said: “I decided I wanted to do it to raise money for the trust because it’s a wonderful local charity and its people are working so hard to build a hospice and they deserve help.
“Like the trust, I want to give children who are ill some happiness. As well as raising money for them my song will give them joy and hope.
“I’m looking forward to recording the single. It’s going to be a fantastic experience for everyone involved.
“It’s such a magical, beautiful song and, like all my songs, it aims to uplift and bring hope, happiness, fun and peace.
“With this song I wanted to get the Christmas feel across. It’s got all the best bits of Christmas in it and it’s very much for children.”
Antoine is recording the single at Kirklees Music School on Wednesday.
He will provide the vocals and play the piano on the track and he has also enlisted the help of Scissett School’s orchestra and choir to perform on it.
They will all be performing the song at Huddersfield Town Hall on December 11 at the trust’s concert. It may also be available to download off the charity’s website.
Antoine has already raised over £400 towards the project by holding clairvoyance evenings at places around Huddersfield with the help of other local clairvoyants Una Pearce, Sandra Lee and Rebecca Atkinson.
But he needs more financial help if he is to realise his dream of getting the CDs made, issued and distributed as widely as possible.
He hopes to make the song available in local shops.
Antoine added: “I want to share my music and bring hope to everyone. But I need help in getting it off the ground to raise as much as possible for the trust.
“To get this song released I need people to help by sponsoring me.”
To sponsor Antoine phone him on 07949 764427.
