A DETERMINED musician with a debilitating lung disease hopes to fulfil his final ambition in life by making it big with the release of his Christmas single.

Ron White, 66, of Tow Law, has one last item on his bucket list and this winter is dreaming of a number one with Give Us a Hug For Christmas - penned to spread festive cheer and raise money for a good cause.

The father-of-one, who has to use an oxygen tank to help him breathe, will give all proceeds to mental health charity Mind.

“I know I don’t have the full term of life,” said Mr White. “This is the last ambition I have left. I have a nice house, a daughter who has graduated and is working abroad and this would end everything off. I’ve spent thousands on demos over the years and it would be the icing on the cake.”

The singer and guitarist has been making music since he was a teenager and during his life has written around 1,200 songs, of which he has professionally demoed 100.

Describing himself as “quiet” as a boy, Mr White said he had always used music as a form of self-expression.

At the age of 15 his song ‘Tow Law Town’ was shortlisted in a competition for Tyne Tees Television and he even ended up playing it on TV.

After that he started a band called Sounds Like Five before joining popular Crook band The Gemini Five, which performed all over County Durham at clubs and dance halls.

He wrote a track for Tow Law Town football team for its 1998 trip to Wembley for the final of the FA vase while in 2007 some of his songs were recorded by country singer Stu Stevens.

Around 18 months ago the retired father was encouraged by doctors to keep singing following a diagnosis of pulmonary fibrosis, which causes difficulty breathing.

In the last year Mr White has undergone chemotherapy to treat the condition and has suffered other medical problems - but refuses to be held back.

“I keep bouncing back like a rubber ball,” he added. “I’ve persevered and make the best of life. Music has been the thread and has kept me focused.”

With a constant desire to create new music, Mr White wrote Give Us a Hug For Christmas and recorded it four weeks ago.

He has chosen to donate any money made from sales of the song to Mind.

“I think Mind is under-funded,” said Mr White, whose daughter lives in Japan. “You read about young people committing suicide and I think it’s tragic.”

The single is available in Tow Law from Cathy’s, The Pantry, The Newmarket, Anne’s Hairdressers, Hirs and Sirs, Shaw’s Special Occasions and Crook-based Ritchie Coatsworth Photography, on Hope Street.

  • Mr White can post the disc for £2.99 if contacted on 01388-730424 or at ronald@ronald2.orangehome.co.uk