Personal songs for sick children

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Sick children at Liverpool's Alder Hey Hospital are having personalised songs written for them in a bid to aid their recovery.

The hospital was chosen as the first in the country to launch Songs of Love, a charity which writes and produces songs to cheer up youngsters in hospital.

Staff from the American-based charity visited patients to find out their interests before writing them a song.

Jessica, one of the first to have a song made, said it made her feel happy.

The 10-year-old, who is currently being treated at the Merseyside children's hospital in Aintree, added: "I was asked everything, what my thing was and that is soft toys and what my favourite food was and favourite colour.

Every song you write is a guaranteed hit for the child John Beltzer, founder of Songs of Love

"They asked me about drawing because I like to draw and how long I've been in here [Alder Hey].

"Being in here is sometimes boring so it is nice is there is something happening when you're in."

A personalised song is devised using answers given by each child according to his or her preferences.

Each song aims to take the patient's mind off their illness and help distract them from any pain.

John Beltzer, who founded the charity, said: "It's actually better than winning a Grammy because you know that every song you write is a guaranteed hit for the child.

"In letters, parents say when the children first get the song they play it 20 times on the first day and it drives them crazy.

"They also say it helps them during their treatment.

"They have the song with them whenever they are feeling down."

The charity has visited more than 300 hospitals in America and now uses about 350 songwriters.