BORN FREE - Charity Single

INTRODUCTION

My name is Pete Morten. I'm a professional musician,
known mostly throughout the world, for my extensive
work with UK band Threshold.  I left last year, after 10 years, to focus my efforts more on my own band,
My Soliloquy.

In August 2018, I’m back in the studio, set to record a charity single, down at Aubitt Studios, in Southampton, with famous producer, Rob Aubrey.

The song I’ve written is for the wonderful Born Free Foundation and it is my personal dedication to that organisation's incredible work and cause. It's founding members are Bill Travers MBE and Virginia McKenna OBE, who were stars of the iconic film - of the same name - released March 14th 1966.

It’s something close to my heart and something I’ve wanted to do for the past 10 years, but... well touring and making albums have just gotten in the way of me ever getting around to it.

However, I’ve resolved that 2018 will be the year that it happens!.

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MY AIM

Along with the charity single release, which will go on sale September 1st 2018, as a download only, I'll also be doing a Sponsored bike ride, to help raise even more money.
I'll be cycling from where I live in Stamford, Lincolnshire to my parents' house in Lichfield, Staffordshire, UK (where I grew up) and back again.

The journey is approx 140 miles, all told, and should take around 7 and a half hours to complete each way.  
So, that'll be around 15 hours of cycling.

90% of all proceeds from the charity single and 100% of the sponsored bike ride monies will go directly to the foundation. 10% of the single
revenue will be paid to me, as a writing royalty.

Note: As well as being able to make online donations for the bike ride, sponsorship forms will also be available, so you can physically go out and get sponsors too.

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WHO WILL BENEFIT

The Born Free Foundation will be the sole recipients of all monies donated to them (see above).
Pertinently, through their use of the money, it is the many and varied suffering animals, endangered species and endangered habitats that will directly benefit from the foundation's vital work.

For more info on their invaluable contribution to
Animal Welfare,
please visit: http://www.bornfree.org.uk/about-us/

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WHAT THE FUNDS WILL BE USED FOR

I need to raise £1000.00 in the first instance. 
This money will be used for the following:

Note: The £1000.00 goal is just the cost of setting these two events up properly. We are obviosuly hoping to raise far more than this.  
So, not only will the foundation receive money from the initial fund raising campaign, they'll also receive money from the sponsored bike ride, and the revenue generated from the single sales.

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1: £600.00 - Studio Costs
This figure covers the 3 days of studio time that I'll need to record the song professionally. It will be mixed and mastered, ready for release, by famous producer, Rob Aubrey at Aubitt Studios.

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2: £200.00 - Sponsored Bike Ride Costs
This money will be used to cover all costs relating to the setting up of the Bike Ride, and its associated support/maintenence costs.

Such as; the purchase of a bicycle sat nav (so I don't get lost) and a helmet cam, incase of an accident, so I have video evidence.
Finally, it's there too, for emergency bike repairs, such as puncture repair kits/service, brake/gear repair etc etc.

This money will also cover the purchase of a 1st aid kit and food and drink along the way.

NOTE: Monies not used or left over will be added to the final charity donation.

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3: £200.00  - Hotel Costs
I've allocated a basic £200.00 pot to cover the costs of
two B&B/hotel rooms, which ever is cheapest!.
One for the  journey there, one for the way back.

As this is not a competitive race, I plan to make it a pleasant experience for myself, by spliting each journey, either way, over two days.
So a cheap hotel, probably somewhere near Ashby de la Zouch - as it's approximately the half way mark - will be sought, over night.

This money will also cover the cost of a hot meal in the evening and breakfast, should it not be included with the room. 

NOTE: Monies not used or left over will be added to the final charity donation.

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DEADLINE FOR MONEY RAISED 
The deadline I've set for us to reach the initial £1000.00 mark will be June 14th. That gives us three months from today (March 14th) to see if this is a viable venture that people will be willing to support.  

As things always need planning well in advance too, this gives us plenty of lead time, to plan everything diligently, should we be successful.

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WHAT THIS WILL MEAN TO ME

I've been following the wonderful work the foundation does for over ten years. Their untiring efforts to help reduce animal suffering, in all its forms, the world over, are to be applauded and celebrated.

I want to help!. By this, I mean, I want to be a voice for animal welfare, a voice for Mother Earth too. A voice that helps protect endangered species, and endangered habitats. But above all, I want to be a voice for compassion.

Without compassion, not only for each other, but all living things, what are we, as a race?. What is our worth?.  

This is not a vanity statement. I just happen to be a musician, and this is how I'm choosing to express that compassionate side of my nature. 
The best way I could think of demonstrating that, is by writing a song. 

As regards the bike ride, well, I just love cycling. :)

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GRAITUDE

I’ve been in contact with Born Free and they have expressed interest in both supporting and promoting this campaign.
For this I am extremely grateful. I feel I have been a silent supporter for too long. 

I hope you'll join me, in being a voice for silent, suffering animals, the world over. 

The gratitude I will feel for all help received, will be felt not only by me, but by the foundation too.

Of course its ramifications are far more wide reaching than that. If we protect endangered species like Elephants and Rhino's, to name just two, from going extinct, now, then it'll be future generations that'll continue to enjoy these wonderful animals, in their natural environments. 

It'll be they, who will be grateful that we, in the here and now, did something to protect them!.

It goes far beyond my short time on this earth.