Latest news with #TheWaitingRoom
Scoop
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Michael Murphy Joins Make-A-Wish Aotearoa In Waiting Room
Press Release – Make A Wish NZ The just released song has already had more than 16,000 plays on Spotify and MAW has gained nearly 10,000 new followers on the platform too. With all streaming proceeds directly supporting wishes, this gift will continue to generously generate … • Michael Murphy creates song for critically ill Kiwi kids after being touched by campaign • The Waiting Room highlights tremendous demand facing Make-A-Wish charity • Murphy's song includes voices of children impacted by Make-A-Wish – including his son Make-A-Wish NZ's latest fundraising campaign – The Waiting Room – has produced more than just much needed funds for critically ill Kiwi kids ' wishes. It's also spawned a wonderful new song from much-loved Kiwi popstar of NZ Idol fame, Michael Murphy. The Waiting Room premise is that 'although dozens of critically ill Kiwi kids spend way more time in hospital waiting rooms than they should have to, we have the chance to make sure their wishes don't have to wait.' When Murphy was asked if he would appear in the campaign collateral as a popstar (see above), representing a popular children's wish of 'singing on a stage', he said I can do better than that: 'How about I create a song to go with it?' Murphy enlisted the help of friend, writing partner and Written By Wolves bandmate Davie Wong to write the song. Then a week later, and coincidentally right on cue for NZ Music Month, Murphy's 'The Waiting Room' song (click to listen) was available to stream – kindly gifted to Make-A-Wish, and released under their name. But Murphy also had a greater personal motivation and connection for doing what he did. The child solo in the song is sung by Michael's nine-year-old son, Archie. Cont'd…/ Archie's best friend Freddie (who is also in the child's choir in the song) is a recent Make-A-Wish (MAW) recipient and currently in remission after being diagnosed with leukaemia. Murphy explains the connection even more poignantly: 'Quite often it's not only the sick child and their whānau who begin a roller-coaster journey after a diagnosis. The young friends of the sick child also have to be chaperoned on a journey of explanation and awareness by their own families about what's happening to their mates. In this case it was my family's journey through our son's friendship with Freddie.' Fortunately, Freddie is continuing to live his best life. The wish that Freddie was granted has been immortalised in the lyrics of Murphy's new song: ' I wanna ride with my best friend in a monster truck.' And less than a year later, Freddie and his best mate who tagged along for that ride, Archie, are singing about their magic Make-A-Wish experience in a song created and performed by Archie's dad. Cool huh. The just released song has already had more than 16,000 plays on Spotify – and MAW has gained nearly 10,000 new followers on the platform too. With all streaming proceeds directly supporting wishes, this gift will continue to generously generate funds of its own for MAW for years to come. Make-A-Wish New Zealand CEO Anne Fitisemanu says the song is full of imagination and is a creative bonus for the campaign. 'Make-A-Wish New Zealand has never done anything like this before. Thank you so much to Michael and Davie for your mahi, and for making our charity a music artist!'
Scoop
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Michael Murphy Joins Make-A-Wish Aotearoa In Waiting Room
• Michael Murphy creates song for critically ill Kiwi kids after being touched by campaign • The Waiting Room highlights tremendous demand facing Make-A-Wish charity • Murphy's song includes voices of children impacted by Make-A-Wish – including his son Make-A-Wish NZ's latest fundraising campaign – The Waiting Room – has produced more than just much needed funds for critically ill Kiwi kids ' wishes. It's also spawned a wonderful new song from much-loved Kiwi popstar of NZ Idol fame, Michael Murphy. The Waiting Room premise is that 'although dozens of critically ill Kiwi kids spend way more time in hospital waiting rooms than they should have to, we have the chance to make sure their wishes don't have to wait.' When Murphy was asked if he would appear in the campaign collateral as a popstar (see above), representing a popular children's wish of 'singing on a stage', he said I can do better than that: 'How about I create a song to go with it?' Murphy enlisted the help of friend, writing partner and Written By Wolves bandmate Davie Wong to write the song. Then a week later, and coincidentally right on cue for NZ Music Month, Murphy's 'The Waiting Room' song (click to listen) was available to stream – kindly gifted to Make-A-Wish, and released under their name. But Murphy also had a greater personal motivation and connection for doing what he did. The child solo in the song is sung by Michael's nine-year-old son, Archie. Cont'd…/ Archie's best friend Freddie (who is also in the child's choir in the song) is a recent Make-A-Wish (MAW) recipient and currently in remission after being diagnosed with leukaemia. Murphy explains the connection even more poignantly: 'Quite often it's not only the sick child and their whānau who begin a roller-coaster journey after a diagnosis. The young friends of the sick child also have to be chaperoned on a journey of explanation and awareness by their own families about what's happening to their mates. In this case it was my family's journey through our son's friendship with Freddie.' Fortunately, Freddie is continuing to live his best life. The wish that Freddie was granted has been immortalised in the lyrics of Murphy's new song: ' I wanna ride with my best friend in a monster truck.' And less than a year later, Freddie and his best mate who tagged along for that ride, Archie, are singing about their magic Make-A-Wish experience in a song created and performed by Archie's dad. Cool huh. The just released song has already had more than 16,000 plays on Spotify – and MAW has gained nearly 10,000 new followers on the platform too. With all streaming proceeds directly supporting wishes, this gift will continue to generously generate funds of its own for MAW for years to come. Make-A-Wish New Zealand CEO Anne Fitisemanu says the song is full of imagination and is a creative bonus for the campaign. 'Make-A-Wish New Zealand has never done anything like this before. Thank you so much to Michael and Davie for your mahi, and for making our charity a music artist!'
Yahoo
03-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Runner's 28-hour railway challenge on track to raise more than £40,000
A charity worker who ran more than 100 miles to every station on a train network has raised more than £40,000. Alex Rigby completed 109 miles around the Merseyrail network in 28 hours – even travelling on foot through the tunnel underneath the River Mersey which links Liverpool and Wirral. He said: 'Completing the challenge was definitely the proudest moment of my life. 'The support from people is what makes it so special. 'I have a couple of blisters and a few aches and pains, but it's all been worth it.' The 33-year-old, a fundraising officer for domestic abuse charity Centre 56, set off from Chester at 3pm on Friday and reached his final destination, Hunts Cross in south Liverpool, at 7pm the following day. He ran through Wirral on Friday afternoon before donning high-visibility safety gear over his running clothes to walk through the Mersey railway tunnel at 1am – when no trains were running. After making it to Liverpool city centre, he ran in freezing temperatures through the early hours of Saturday morning to Kirkby, in Knowsley, and then on to Ormskirk in Lancashire. He continued across to Southport before making his way back to Liverpool – where he was greeted with cheers by supporters who spent the day fundraising at the city's central station. His route also included a stop at the Centre 56 nursery in Kirkdale, which supports families who have experienced domestic abuse, where staff and children gathered with balloons and placards to cheer him on. A crowd gathered at Hunts Cross to celebrate his final stop, with a buffet and drinks provided at The Waiting Room pub. Running the Railways Update❗ 📣📣AND HE'S DONE IT! Alex crosses the finish line at Hunts Cross station completing 107 miles, travelling to every Merseyrail Station. 🎊🎊 Our Massive Congratulations to Alex, you're an inspiration! 🤩🫶@Centre_56 — Merseyrail (@merseyrail) March 1, 2025 He said: 'The two hardest parts were running from Aintree to Kirkby when it was minus two degrees, that was really difficult, and also at 80 miles when I knew I still had a marathon to go. 'I never had any doubts that I'd finish it, I just thought I was going to be in agony.' Along his journey, Mr Rigby, from Bootle, Merseyside, was joined by hundreds of supporters, including representatives from more than 50 businesses and organisations who ran in relay. They included Liverpool City Region metro mayor Steve Rotheram, who joined Mr Rigby from Crosby to Waterloo, and Merseyrail managing director Neil Grabham. Fellow members of Liverpool Running Club, which Mr Rigby has been part of for 10 years, were also with him throughout, including Michael Burns, who travelled alongside him on a bike for the entire route. Mr Rigby had aimed to raise £35,000 to support the charity but now hopes he might reach up to £50,000 once all donations are collected. To find out more, go to
