Stay Another Day music card fundraiser for Nordoff & Robbins charity
Cardfactory is in tune with the giving side of Christmas as the retail giant has partnered with East17 legend Tony Mortimer to raise money for the Nordoff & Robbins music therapy charity.
Marking 30 years since the Christmas classic Stay Another Day, which Tony both wrote and sang on, topped the charts, Cardfactory’s exclusive charity design includes a QR code to stream the music so fans can relive the magic.
And Tony is featured in a special video, which can be seen above, sharing why the song still means so much and how 25p from every £1.49 card sale will go to support Nordoff & Robbins’ life-changing music therapy.
There also an event at Cardfactory in Westfield White City tomorrow, Saturday, 14 December, when a “special guest” will be signing cards at the store after joining a choir performing there at 1pm.
Senior buying manager Cheryl Sandbach laughed: “At this stage we’re not telling the public who is attending, just mentioning there’s a special guest appearance at our store this Saturday!”
Having beaten Mariah Carey’s All I Want For Christmas Is You to No1 in 1994, Stay Another Day has since been covered by numerous artists and is still a festive favourite, with 20million streams last year alone.
Originally written as a poignant tribute to a lost loved one, Tony wants to reconnect the song with its emotional roots, highlighting its ability to provide comfort, creativity and connection – just like greeting cards do – and he gave a special performance of his classic tune at the charity’s annual carol service in London on Tuesday, 10 December, alongside festive performances from Jamie Cullum and Lemar.
“Through this collaboration with Nordoff & Robbins and Cardfactory, I really want to raise awareness of how music can offer hope, expression and healing to people everywhere,” Tony said. “This 30-year anniversary is more than just a celebration of a song – it’s a call to remember the profound impact that music can have on our lives, particularly in moments of struggle.
“The support from Cardfactory provides a great opportunity to raise money for life-changing music therapy, helping to make a difference to young people who are living with mental health problems. Together, we can ensure the power of music continues to uplift and support those who need it.”
The QR-code design has come about through Ellie Fitzgerald, who is now head of music industry at Nordoff & Robbins and also the brains behind the Say It With Songs card and gift concept where she links her captions to an appropriate tune that can be streamed by the recipient – and there’s a 10% donation from every purchase which goes to the charity.
Of the tie-up Ellie commented: “This is a truly unique Stay Another Day Christmas card. We all know the festive season is full of music, connection and celebration, so this is such an exciting card to be a part of. And of course, it is supporting music therapy and helping Nordoff & Robbins to reach more people through music.
“We’d like to thank Cardfactory and London Records for their support in making this happen, and I can’t wait to see this special card on mantelpieces across the country this Christmas.”
Launched last week in all 1,000-plus UK stores and online, the limited-edition card is already proving popular and Cardfactory chief commercial officer Adam Dury commented: “We’re really excited to partner with Nordoff & Robbins and London Records. Music therapy has the power to transform lives, and we’re delighted to contribute to this cause by providing the design, print, and distribution services for these special edition Christmas cards.
“By purchasing these cards, you’re not only spreading festive cheer but also helping to bring joy and healing to those who need it most.”
