There are many cancer charities with this aim, but few which use the expressive power of music as the means for raising awareness of cancer and for fund raising. Music, and musicians, too, could benefit from a new charity which aims to fight cancer through music, since new works would be commissioned and funds could also be used to support education, performances and recordings of British music. Knowing of Linda's sad death, at just 56, on Friday, April 17th 1998, from primary breast and secondary liver cancer, I hoped that Sir Paul McCartney, perhaps the greatest song writer of our time, would welcome the opportunity to create an everlasting musical tribute for her, to be known as a Garland for Linda . This would then launch The Garland Appeal to raise money for cancer research and British music. The Garland Appeal will be worldwide.
Cancer is a universal illness, while music transcends national boundaries.