A PROFESSIONAL singer and some very talented friends have written and recorded a song to help find a cure for cancer.

Inspired by one of her best friends who is currently battling the disease, Colchester songwriter Sarah-Louise Isom, known as Sarah Louise, has created single Touch the Sky in aid of Cancer Research UK.

Collaborators Nigel Thompson, Steve Miller, Emma Weisman and Clive Walker have all had their lives touched by the condition in some way and schoolchildren from Wivenhoe's Millfields Primary School helped Sarah Louise with the songwriting process.

Under the collective name Huckleberry Taylor and Friends the group will be performing the single live for the first time outside Colchester Town Hall on the day of the town's Christmas market, and they're set to be joined in a collective singalong by cancer survivors of all ages.

Sarah Louise said: "One of my best friends was diagnosed with cancer two months ago.

"I have been listening to the song with her and she has been advising me on the message it should get across. Music is really important to her and it is helping her get through this.

"I have lost so many people I care about to cancer.

"Over the years I have raised a lot of money for Cancer Research UK and so the charity is a big part of my life.

"I feel very passionately that I want to be alive to see a cure."

Sarah Louise, who lost her auntie, nan and collaborator Reg Webb to the disease, runs singing and movement class for youngsters and has been getting her groups involved with both the writing and performing of the tune.

"I think positivity can really help people get through it and I believe music makes a difference," she said.

"One of the children in my singing group said we were like singing doctors, which I think is a beautiful way of thinking about it.

"The children love singing the song and it would be really nice to see everyone get involved when it is released."

Huckleberry Taylor and Friends will be performing Touch the Sky outside Colchester Town Hall at 11am on Sunday, December 9. The performance will be filmed to help create a music video for the song.