A talented young local singer-songwriter is turning grief into generosity with the release of a deeply personal song dedicated to her late grandmother. Katie Russell, aged 19, hopes her music will not only honour her Nan's memory but also raise funds for Forest Holme in Poole, the local hospice that provided care and support to both her Nan and family during their most challenging times.
The song, titled ‘A Christmas Song To My Nan' is a touching tribute that captures the love, loss, and lasting impact of her grandmother's presence in her life before she passed away at Forest Holme when Katie was just 11 years old.
Katie has used music as a way to cope with the death of her Nan, especially as her neurodiversity impacted her grief, leading her to write songs as an outlet to help find a new perspective on life and build resilience. She first performed the song when she appeared as a guest on Forest Holme Hospice’s ‘Life & Loss’ podcast series.
Speaking about her inspiration for the song, Katie said: "My Nan was my biggest supporter and my closest friend. Writing this song was my way of keeping her spirit alive and saying thank you for everything she taught me. The care and kindness we received from Forest Holme during her final days meant the world to us, and I wanted to give something back."
The single was officially released on December 16th and is available on streaming platforms including Spotify, Amazon Music and iTunes. Proceeds from the song will be donated directly to Forest Holme Hospice to support their ongoing work providing compassionate end-of-life care for patients and their families.
Hannah O’ Hare, CEO at Forest Holme Hospice Charity, expressed gratitude for Katie's efforts: "We are incredibly moved by Katie's decision to honour her grandmother in such a powerful and creative way. She first played me the song when I interviewed her for our charity’s ‘Life & Loss’ podcast series and it was so moving. Her music will undoubtedly touch hearts while also raising vital funds to help us continue providing the care and support we were able to give to her Nan.”
You can watch Katie performing ‘A Christmas Song To My Nan' on YouTube via https://tinyurl.com/NanSong or listen on streaming platforms Spotify, Amazon and YouTube Music.
Spotify https://open.spotify.com/album/3va4ICtfneIcnRqSu4fjpZ?si=Ou641XLrSziT7yGyvYqZyA
YouTube Music: https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=j1IAMKz4Sqk&si=aWtXUX5jH3ZAoNmp
Amazon Music:
https://music.amazon.co.uk/albums/B0DPVR3XF4?trackAsin=B0DPVR3CZ4&do=play&ts=1734349706&ref=dm_sh_oWScPYhyABuxdSVoMLQPYw4VW