HMV receivers will pay Lily-Mae charity invoice
It has been confirmed that €27,000 from HMV sales of a charity single will now be paid.
Around 300 musicians added their support to a rendition of Elton John's 'Tiny Dancer' before Christmas, in aid of Lily-Mae Morrison from Galway.
She is suffering from a rare childhood cancer of the nervous system.
Her uncle Paul Hayes said that they got confirmation last night from Deloitte, the receivers appointed to HMV Ireland, that the payment will go through.
"It's fantastic," he said. "This will take us to €210,000 in the last seven months.
"We're a long way away from our goal, which is half a million, if Lily-Mae relapses, there's limited treatment in Ireland so we'd be looking at America and you're talking half a million euro.
"So we'll be closing in on a quarter of a million euro by the end of February."
Lily-Mae’s mother Judith said the donations were very important.
“We’re delighted that the Tiny Dancer invoices from HMV will be honoured,” she said.
“This money is very important for Lily-Mae’s future and for the future of all the children suffering for neuroblastoma as half of it will go to neuroblastoma research.
“Right now our main focus is Lily-Mae who is a very sick little girl. She and her brother Evan are the centre of our world. We’d like to thank everyone for the continued support.”
It is hoped some of the money raised, in the region of €70,000 now, can be used to fund treatment for Lily-Mae.
HMV’s Ireland operation was put into receivership last week with stores closed for the foreseeable future.
It is understood an arrangement was reached between receivers in Deloitte and Lily Mae’s family.
Stephen Macken, who produced the new version of Elton John’s track, called 'A Song For Lily-Mae', said it broke into the top 20 in online downloads and almost hit the top 10 a second time after the HMV story broke last week.
