CHRISTCHURCH teenager Matt Lillywhite is on a mission to make a fundraising single for Cancer Research UK involving a staggering 7000 people.

Matt, 16, hopes he can break the world record for the most musicians in one song by inviting choirs, orchestras and anyone from the public to get involved.

With plans to release the single in December, he hopes combining his passion for music with a charity close to his heart will help in the quest to beat cancer for good.

Having been immersed in music from a young age and with his great uncle, multi-BAFTA award-winning composer Christopher Gunning, on his side Matt decided to use music to make a difference.

The young dance music artist was inspired to take action after one of his friend’s parents died as a result of cancer.

“It was heartbreaking to see how people change once they get affected by it,” he said.

“It’s hard to know how to react. You see cancer stories in the news a lot.

"I guess I felt that I wanted to do something to help them.

"I couldn’t do anything about the fact that they were diagnosed."

So many people look at the past when they could be thinking about the future. I just wanted to do a massive project to help raise what will hopefully be a lot of money.”

With rapid progress being made on the song, entitled ‘Beautiful’, Matt has already been in contact with several X Factor and Britain’s Got Talent finalists who are interested in getting involved.

Having written the lyrics for ‘Beautiful’ himself, he has already found the lead female vocalist – Georgia Box, a popular singer from Essex.

Also involved with the project is filmmaker Damien Reeves, who has worked with Take That and will film and direct the music video for the song.

Once completed, the song will be available to download on iTunes and other online stores.

The song will be recorded in August, and Matt is calling for as much support from the public as possible.

All money raised from the project will go to Cancer Research UK. To take part in Matt’s song, he can be contacted via email at mattsong submissions@gmail.com.

To hear more about Matt’s project for Cancer Research UK, tune in to hear him interviewed on BBC Radio Solent on June 29 at 6.15pm.

Maria Green.