SONG FOR JULES
Rocker Mike records heartfelt tribute to wife after cancer battle
MIKE PETERS has penned a beautiful tribute to the “true heroism” of his wife Jules as she has bravely battled cancer. Heroine (My Love Is Alive) is the new single from Mike Peters and The Alarm – a stirring love song which celebrates the bravery of his wife as she has undergone gruelling treatment for breast cancer.
It’s a song rich in emotion for the musician, who is a 21-year cancer survivor having fought off the disease on three occasions – as the singer pours his heart out like never before.
The song is accompanied by a striking video filmed at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah as The Alarm embarked on a mammoth summer trek across the US.
“I was inspired to write Heroine after seeing the woman who has loved, stood by and cared for me through 21 years of living with cancer, face up to the shock and reality of having to accept a breast cancer diagnosis of her own,” said Mike.
“Throughout her journey to recovery, I was continually moved by what I can only describe as true heroism, especially in the way she retained her zest for life, and to remain constantly dignified at all times as both a woman and mother, despite the often savage ordeal of the experience.”
The amazing bond made strong through the fact that both of them have cancer was vividly portrayed in the recent and nationally broadcast BBC television documentary – Mike and Jules: While We Still Have Time, in which we saw Jules receive her shock diagnosis as well as undergo intensive bouts of radiotherapy and chemotherapy – while dealing with the trauma of coping with hair loss and the scars of surgery.
The pair have also opened up about the importance of his family’s spiritual values as they both battled cancer.
On a special edition of S4C’s religion magazine programme Dechrau Canu Dechrau Canmol to be broad- cast today, Mike and Jules, speak of how they have come through difficult health problems.
“I take one day at a time and we support each other. We stay positive, counting our blessings and we remember that we have two lovely sons,” said Mike, who became a Christian after reading a book about Jesus Christ on the London-Rhyl train some years ago.
The reaction from both women and men affected by their story, in particular Jules’ breast cancer experience, has been phenomenal – with messages of support arriving from all corners of the globe.
The couple are the driving force behind the Love Hope Strength foundation which is dedicated to saving lives at rock concerts and festivals in the UK and the USA, registering more than 150,000 people to the international bone marrow registry and locating over 3,500 potentially life saving matches in the process.
And next month Jules will be fronting a campaign in Wales for Breast Cancer Now – the UK’s largest breast cancer charity.
Meanwhile, The Alarm have recently released new album Viral Black and will play five nights at Cardiff’s Norwegian Church from November 1-5 as part of a series of shows celebrating the 30th anniversary of the band’s Eye Of The Hurricane album.
■ Find out more at: www. thealarm.com