Star pens song tribute to brave Layla
A SINGING sensation who wowed audiences on hit TV show X Factor is to release a single in memory of a brave Renfrew tot.
Emily Middlemas has written ‘Layla’ as a tribute to Layla Greene, who lost her battle with a rare form of cancer known as neuroblastoma earlier this year, aged just three.
The singer, who attended McCallum School of Music, in Paisley, as a youngster, is releasing the song on Friday to raise funds for Neuroblastoma UK.
Emily said: “Layla touched the hearts of thousands of people and she is a massive inspiration to us all. She was such a little fighter and had the most loving family around her throughout every stage.
“Neuroblastoma is a childhood cancer that not a lot of people know about. This disease really is the devil and should have more funding and awareness around it.
“My aim is to help raise awareness of neuroblastoma and funds for Neuroblastoma UK in memory of Layla and children who have sadly passed away from it.”
Emily, 19, had formed a bond with Layla after meeting the youngster.
Back in January, she admitted on social media that her “heart was broken” when Layla died.
Emily will be performing at the L&L Love Aid gig on March 31 at Paisley’s Lagoon Leisure Centre, which is being held in memory of Layla and in support of Leighanne Sanderson, also from Renfrew, who has a brain tumour.
All profits will be split between neuroblastoma research and Leighanne, who hopes to travel to Germany for further treatment.
Layla’s mum, Louise Cunningham, said: “I can’t thank Emily enough. She came to see me a week after Layla had passed and she’d already written the song because she just couldn’t get her out of her head.
“It’s so perfect and so fitting.”