Former Wet Wet Wet frontman Marti Pellow performed a special rerelease of the band’s greatest hit at a cancer centre in Glasgow as part of a charity campaign with Lorraine Kelly.
The Clydebank-born star put on a special performance for patients and staff at the Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre with a new version of the hit 1994 single, Love Is All Around, as part of a campaign with STV’s Lorraine Kelly to raise awareness of breast cancer symptoms.
It comes after the talk show host created a charity single with the Scottish singer and a choir of women who discovered they had breast cancer after watching her chat show.
Lorraine’s Change and Check campaign encourages women to check their breasts for changes and stresses the importance of seeing a GP if they notice anything unusual. It was launched six years ago.
SuppliedMairi Milne, 55, from Bridge of Weir, Renfrewshire, who was one of the women who went on to be diagnosed with breast cancer after watching Lorraine’s show, joined Marti during his performance on Thursday.
In 2014, Marti’s father, John McLachlan, died at the age of 79 at his home in Dalmuir after a year-long cancer battle.
Marti said: “This is a very special place with such a big catchment area for the whole of the west of Scotland for people receiving treatment. Since I’ve come in the door, I’ve been met with so many smiles and hugs.
“It’s quite poignant because my father was given his diagnosis here. I’ve always been driven by it, and when I look at it, it makes me think of my father.
“If there’s anything there that’s not your normal, go and get it checked. There’s a good chance there’s nothing wrong with you but it’s important to be aware and get checked if there are changes.
“The beautiful thing about this is that we are giving the message through the gift of song, and that’s what makes it special and so powerful.”
SuppliedThe 59-year-old also met patients who are undergoing treatment in the radiotherapy department and Macmillan Day Bed Unit, as well as staff members who support them at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde’s Gartnavel campus.
Former patient Gillian Shirreffs, 54, from the West End of Glasgow, gave him a signed copy of her book, which was written before her breast cancer diagnosis in August 2021.
The proceeds of the book Brodie will go to the Beatson Cancer Charity, while the earnings from the charity single will go to Breast Cancer Awareness UK.
Last year’s campaign single with Joss Stone, Golden, reached number one in the charts.
Love Is All Around, which remained number one in the UK Charts in 1994 for 15 weeks after featuring in Four Weddings and a Funeral, will hope to reach the top spot once again.
Cathy Hutchison, cancer consultant nurse at the Beatson, said: “We were delighted to welcome Marti to the Beatson today, where patients and staff were able to meet him and enjoy a special performance.
“Having someone of his profile highlight the importance of routine checks and screening for breast cancer is invaluable.
“We’re grateful to Marti for coming along and helping to raise awareness of the work we do here at the Beatson.”
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