Shrews fans urged to download charity Christmas song

Pictured at Greenhous Meadow ahead of Saturday’s match are: Back row (left to right): Councillor Keith Barrow; Lenny the Lion; Shrewsbury Town chairman, Roland Wycherley; Sarah Elms, Hope House fundraising manager. Front row (left to right): goalkeeper Ben Smith; Ellie Ashley; Mrs Lenny

Thousands of football fans attending Shrewsbury Town’s game against Macclesfield Town at Greenhous Meadow last Saturday (17 December 2011) were encouraged to help raise money for Hope House Children’s Hospices by downloading a special Christmas song.

The version of “O Holy Night” has been recorded by Charlotte Edwards, 20, from Oswestry in conjunction with Shropshire Council and BBC Radio Shropshire.  It is available to download from iTunes and Amazon, with proceeds going to Hope House.

At half-time on Saturday fans were treated to a sample of the song, and details of how to download it, while the matchday programme also included a page giving information about the song and how to download it.

Shrewsbury Town also welcomed Ellie Ashley, 10, and Sarah Elms, fundraising manager, from Hope House, as their special guests at the match, which Shrewsbury won 1-0 in front of nearly 5,000 fans.

Keith Barrow, Leader of Shropshire Council, said:

“By downloading this fantastic song, people can help to raise much-needed funding for a deserving local charity.  If all the fans who were at the game were to download it we would raise thousands of pounds and may even get in the charts!

“I’d like to thank all at Shrewsbury Town – and especially chairman Roland Wycherley – for their help in promoting the song to their fans at last week’s match, and for making Ellie and Sarah so welcome.”

For more information, and to download “O Holy Night” go to shropshire.gov.uk/givealittlehope, or go to iTunes or Amazon and search for Charlotte Edwards.

Additional information
Charlotte Edwards is studying music at Cardiff University where she sings in both the University Choir and University Chamber Choir. She also plays in the Cardiff University Concert Orchestra, and has recently joined the BBC National Chorus of Wales.

Hope House has hospices in Oswestry, Shropshire, and in Conwy, North Wales.