Band of brothers pen new song in tribute to Kayla

A Norfolk band has written a special "uplifting" song in honour of a seven-year-old girl they befriended during her treatment for cancer.

The single, Kayla's Song, will feature in an album that will raise money for East Anglia's Children's Hospice, in honour of the support her family received.

Kayla was diagnosed with stage four neuroblastoma in May 2021 and died in May this year - without getting the chance to hear the single.

Glen Spooner, of the Norwich band Sons of Mark, said: "We wanted it to be uplifting, we wanted it to celebrate Kayla's life because she was an amazing little girl."

Speaking to BBC Radio Norfolk's Breakfast Show, Kayla's mum Stacey said she did not want childhood cancer to become a "taboo subject".

"Kayla was three years old when she was diagnosed with high risk stage four neuroblastoma... I couldn't even tell you how many amounts of chemotherapy and stuff she had.

"We spent two years solidly fighting relapse... we were then hit with a brick wall and unfortunately there wasn't any treatment options available."

The family began fundraising soon after Kayla's diagnosis, raising £280,000 in nine months with hopes of their daughter going abroad for treatment.

Stacey first met band members and brothers Owen and Glen Spooner after they played a gig for Kayla in 2022 and they remained firm friends, and she said her seven-year-old "fell in love" with them.

She contacted Owen about writing a song for Kayla.

"We felt a lot of pressure obviously... having [Stacey's] blessing through it meant the world to us," said Owen.

"Obviously it's sad, but we wanted it to be celebrating as well."

The single will feature on the band's new album where all proceeds will go towards EACH's The Nook, where Kayla's family were supported.

Stacey said: "They try and make it a home from home... you have your privacy when you are going through the worst times.

"I could really just turn into being just mum, not the caregiver, not the medicine giver, not the pain management giver - which is what my life has been for four years.

"They allowed me to just be mum again and just be present with my children."

Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.