An Australian musician has written and recorded a “heart-wrenching” song about a Moray toddler’s battle with cancer.
Eileidh Paterson’s struggle with Neuroblastoma has gained headlines across the world.
Kind-hearted members of the public rallied to raise £100,000, so that she could undergo a drugs course in America to prevent the illness returning, once she got the all-clear last summer.
But little did her family suspect that the plucky four-year-old’s plight had struck a chord with a singer on the other side of the planet.
Adelaide-based performer Amelie Bottrill – who records as Frank Loves Joan – was inspired by Eileidh’s resilience after learning about the Forres youngster through one of her chief fundraisers.
She wrote a song called Puddles after reading about Eileidh and learning about her fondness for splashing about in them.
Eileidh’s mum, Gail Paterson, combined the tune with images outlining her daughter’s fight against the condition, and subsequent trips abroad for treatment.
It has already been viewed thousands of times on the internet, with many viewers saying that the footage had brought them to tears.
Miss Bottrill described the video as “gorgeous” and “heart-wrenching”.
The 28-year-old multi-instrumentalist added: “I am ridiculously glad just to be a part of it.
“Just looking at Eileidh’s smile makes me cry, she’s braver than I think I have ever been in my whole life.”
Puddles will be a part of her forthcoming album, and the singer is now looking into releasing it as a charity single.
Ms Paterson first listened to the song on what was an emotional day for the family.
She said: “I was sent it on the second anniversary of Eileidh’s cancer diagnosis.
“So there were a lot of emotions, but I was over the moon with it and it captures Eileidh to a tee.”
The youngster was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma, an aggressive form of childhood cancer, in May, 2014.
She spent much of the following year undergoing intensive therapy to combat the condition.
Last April, Ms Paterson launched a campaign to raise £100,000, so that Eileidh could receive pioneering treatment in America to prevent it from returning.
Her tally eventually topped £125,000 as donors rallied to help Eileidh, who has since travelled to Detroit four times for treatment.
