A TALENTED teenager from Radlett has composed a poignant song to raise funds for four charities at the request of a family friend who has terminal cancer.

After being diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a cancer of the lymphatic system, former Radlett resident Sandra Hamilton asked 15-year-old Max Gray to write a song.

Sandra explained that when discussing her terminal cancer with an upset Max, she suggested that he channel his feelings into music.

The result is a straight-from-the-heart song called I Can’t Handle It, described by Sandra as, “very moving and poignant”.

Max’s lyrics focus on the pain caused by the disease with lines such as, “You were ill, you were weak, your future looked bleak … But what was to happen would cause me so much pain.”

The song goes on: “I can’t handle it when you’re gone, I feel so sad and broken hearted.”

Max, a Year 11 pupil at Haberdashers’ Aske’s Boys’ School, composed the music and wrote the lyrics which are sung by Sandra’s niece Francesca Harris, 14, of Borehamwood.

Sandra said: “Francesca has a very soulful, haunting and deep voice.”

Max has been singing since he was two years old, plays the saxophone and trombone and has been composing songs for the past two years.

The 15 year old said he was thrilled and honoured when asked by Sandra to write the song to raise money for Cure Cancer at UCL, Macmillan, Teenage Cancer Trust and Breast Cancer Care.

It was recorded in a studio and features guitar, keyboard and drums.

Eighty per cent of the net profits from the sale of the CD and downloads will be split between the four charities.

His song will be available from iTunes tomorrow (Friday) or the CD can be ordered for �3. See www.icanthandleit.co.uk for more details and links.