A Suffolk singer-songwriter diagnosed with a non-operable brain tumour has released a debut charity single today to raise cash for The Brain Tumour Charity.
Mat Bayfield, who is currently undergoing chemotherapy at Addenbrookes’s hospital having been diagnosed in 2012, has teamed up with multi-instrumentalist David Booth to form duo Bayfield Booth.
Mr Booth’s father died of the same disease two years ago.
The opening track Magic Man tells the tale of how Mr Bayfield met his wife Kelly, whose sister died from a brain tumour in 2010, through chance meeting while Christmas shopping in 2015.
As they were chatting, celebrity magician Paul Daniels walked in.
However, just weeks later it was announced Mr Daniels had an aggressive brain tumour himself and died soon after.
Mr Bayfield wrote Hold On Tight while undergoing radiotherapy, documenting his struggle through his treatment through the eyes of a sailor, yearning to meet up with his loved ones back home.
Mr Bayfield, who with his wife has raised more than £21,000 by leading a series of walks around the Suffolk Countryside, said you have to make the most of life.
He said: “My motto is ‘life is no rehearsal’.
“Enjoy and make the most of every day as you don’t know what tomorrow brings.
“I have my dark days of course but with the help of my wife, family, friends and plenty of activities to look forward to makes a tough situation much easier to deal with.”
The couple are organising another walk in spring to celebrate their marriage, which hopes to attract more than 1,500 people and raise another £10,000.
Geraldine Pipping, The Brain Tumour Charity’s director of fundraising, said: “Mat, David, Kelly and all their friends and supporters have been superb over the last few years in their tireless drive to raise vital funds for research and for galvanising local communities to come together to highlight awareness of brain tumours.
“Mat’s series of walks became an integral part of reaching out to others moved by his experience and for a show of solidarity and support to affect change for all those affected.”
Bayfield Booth’s single releases today on every major download site.
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