Christmas song dedicated to late wife smashes target for Worthing hospice in 24 hours

Hold Hands for Christmas by Blue Door Elves has been recorded with a video on YouTube that features 48 friends, family members and pets.

Andy Stadden, 58, wanted to thank the Hospice at Home team for caring for his wife last year and is raising money for St Barnabas House via JustGiving.

He said: “My beautiful Julie and I were married in February 2018. During the following August, she began to have seizures and was diagnosed with a glioblastoma brain tumour in September.

“Despite a brain operation and radiotherapy, her condition was incurable and sadly she died on May 31, 2019.

“The fantastic St Barnabas Hospice at Home team made it possible for me to look after Julie at home until the end of her life, so I would like to help them by raising some money to continue their amazing work.”

The title of the song comes from something for which Andy and Julie were well known.

Andy explained: “Julie’s dad, Chris, once told me that he knew Julie and I were right for each other because he’d noticed we always used to hold hands.

“For some reason, this came into my head again in November last year when I was out for a run, and in one of those weird moments of inspiration, Hold Hands For Christmas was born.

“It is a song about grief, and making contact with people that care about you. The video was includes lots of selfie video clips made in lockdown from many Christmassy contributors who got into the festive spirit.

“The song also identifies that some people may not be looking forward to Christmas this year, especially if they are struggling with grief. I hope this might encourage them to reach out to friends and family and find a hand to hold.”

Andy and Julie met at Arunners Running Club in Littlehampton and Andy was due to run the Brighton Marathon with his guitar in April this year in Julie’s honour. When the event was postponed until September 2021, he decided to find another way to give back to St Barnabas House.

The song can be watched for free on YouTube but anyone who makes a donation of £1 or more at www.justgiving.com/fundraising/holdhandsforchristmas will receive a thank you email with a link to a free MP3 download.

Andy said recording would not have been possible without the help and assistance of Martin Meadows, Tina Saunders (Eirene) and Paris Alexander of Blue Door Music Productions in Brighton.

Since the video went live on November 30, it has raised more than £700, smashing Andy’s £500 target within a day of release.

Andy said: “I’m determined to do what I can to raise to money for St Barnabas House so they can continue their important work.

“During her last six weeks, Julie was in a bed downstairs in the front room. The Hospice at Home team called round twice a day to wash and change her, sometimes with extra visits if needed.

“This much-needed routine work was always completed professionally and with compassion. However, the visits meant a lot more than just the care work. It was a chance for Julie to chat, and even have a joke and laugh in those darkest of times. The team became like friends, calling round every day.”

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