Singer Michael English, the RTÉ Concert Orchestra and a choir of Charlie Bird's friends and colleagues - including Marty Morrissey - have united to record Shine a Light, a charity song for the RTÉ broadcaster ahead of his Croagh Patrick climb this April.
Charlie is battling Motor Neurone Disease and he has launched a nationwide campaign that will see him and a host of household names, friends and family climb the spiritual and symbolic mountain in Co Mayo on 2 April.
Over 100 other climbs are taking place around the country on the same date with the aim of recognising the huge physical and emotional mountains many people face in daily life.
All proceeds from Shine a Light are being donated to Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association and Pieta House.
Galway native Sara Noone penned the lyrics for the song after watching Charlie on the Late Late Show in January.
Having first-hand experience of Motor Neurones Disease, her mother Maureen was diagnosed a few years ago, Sara says she was so touched and inspired by Charlie’s openness and honesty that she wrote the song.
Shine A Light will be released this Friday, 11 March and can be pre-saved here.
Commenting on the song, Charlie said: "What an amazing song - it really captures the positive energy and reaching out the hand of friendship that this campaign is all about.
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"Thank you to everyone who was part of it and all my friends and colleagues and particularly to Michael and Sara for making it happen."
He added: "I want to encourage everyone to log on to www.climbwithcharlie.ie and donate what they can, buy the song and set up their own fundraisers to climb in their local area, be it climbing a set of stairs or a short walk around the house, around a local park, a walk to the beach. Whatever you are able to do."
