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Australian musicians join forces in PR and social campaign to help fight fatal disease

A PR and social fund-raising campaign involving many of Australia’s leading musicians has kicked off today in a bid to save the lives of two Sydney children suffering from a rare and fatal disease called Sanfilippo Syndrome.

The host of artists, including Darren Hayes, Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Pete Murray and Natalie Bassingthwaite, have come together to provide vocals on a new version of the Kate Bush track This Women’s Work in a project produced by French singer Sébastien Izambard.

The song will be available to download from Friday with all proceeds going to the Sanfilippo Children’s Foundation, a not-for-profit charity that will help fund clinical research into the treatment of Sanfilippo Syndrome, a  genetic condition that results in progressive brain damage. Life expectancy is between 12 and 20.

The foundation has been started by Meg and Al Donnell, whose two children, Isla, five, and Jude, three, have both been diagnosed with disease.

A clinical trial will take place in the US early in the new year with the Donnell family hoping to raise funds to help fund this trial and possibly one in Australia one.

The music video, which features Isla and Jude, has been produced by Jason van Genderen from independent agency Treehouse Creative.

Everyone involved in the project including Sony Music, all the artists and Treehouse Creative have donated their time and resources free of charge and have vowed to spread word of the campaign through their millions of followers on social media.

“As a father of three young children myself, l could not sit back and watch these two precious children suffer from such a debilitating and ultimately fatal disease,” Izambard said. “This could be my children, this could be any of our children. My wish is to see Isla and Jude grow up and be given a chance at life, a chance every child deserves.

“I am so humbled and thankful for the support of the Australian music artists lending their vocals. It is such a unique and beautiful quality of the Australian culture, banding together in times of need and one that every Australian should feel proud of.”

Vocals on the track are provided by Darren Hayes, Natalie Bassingthwaighte, Pete Murray, Ella Hooper, Diesel, David Campbell, Alex Lloyd, Christine Anu, Luke Steele, Katy Steele, Casey Donovan, Damien Leith, Marlisa, Nathaniel and The Australian Children’s Choir.  Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers play bass.

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