Johnny Depp and Ringo Starr unite for Fatima Whitbread song
Johnny Depp and Ringo Starr are among the celebrities who have united to record a one-off song in aid of Fatima Whitbread's children's charity.The 63-year-old is known to the world as an Olympic medallist and former world champion javelin thrower despite being abandoned as a baby.Whitbread, from Ingatestone in Essex, recently set up a charity aimed at improving the lives of children living in care.Hollywood actor Depp plays guitar for the anthem, rock icon Pete Townsend is on bass and Whitbread added some vocals.
Zak Starkey is on percussion along with his dad, Beatles drummer Starr.Happy Mondays singer Shaun Ryder and actress Samantha Morton also added vocals."It's an incredible line-up, unlike anything we've seen for many years," said Whitbread.
The track is called Take My Hand - in aid of the Fatima's UK Campaign charity - and will be played at her One Voice Summit at Guildhall in London.Whitbread says the event, on 23-24 April, will bring together people with experience of care, politicians and service leaders to help improve outcomes.The song is available for download via online music platforms.She said the idea for the track snowballed after she and Ryder got to know one another on the 2023 edition of I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!"I am using my lived experience and my Olympic title to bring things together," she explained."All of them were really happy to come on board and incredibly supportive of what I'm trying to do, highlighting unacceptable outcomes for children in care."The track was written by 21-year-old Harrison James, who said he was inspired by his own parents who came from difficult backgrounds and had supported children in care.He only had three days to write the song.
In March 2024, there were 83,630 children in care in England, according to government statistics.The charity Become says care-experienced young people are nine times more likely to face homelessness than other young people.Whitbread added: "Children are our future; if we can invest in them from a very young age it will help to shape who and what they become in society.""It's all about building happier and healthier tomorrows and stronger communities and putting these young people on an unstoppable path of reaching their goals and realising their dreams."
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