A seriously ill grandfather’s dream is set to come true, as a charity track he first recorded 21 years ago is the latest challenger to The X Factor this Christmas.

The song, ‘Send Food to the Many’, was written by Tommy McNally in 1988 and recorded with pupils at Taylor High, New Stevenston, North Lanarkshire.

Last time, father-of-17 Tommy had copies of the seven-inch single pressed and then sold them himself out of a bucket in Motherwell Shopping Centre.

Then this year, as he planned to re-record the single and release it to help water and food projects in Africa, Tommy’s hopes were shattered after he was involved in an accident that has left him with a brain injury.

However, his family, school pupils from Taylor High and the local community have rallied round. The single was recorded in a day at the high school, with a choir of 30 youngsters singing it, and with help from music teachers including Fiona Cannon, who was involved in the initial project 21 years ago.

Now it is set to become an iTunes sensation, with all funds raised going to actor David Hayman’s Spirit Aid charity.

Tommy’s daughter Clare Cairney said that after seeing the work that Spirit Aid does, bringing water and food to communities in Africa and providing food hampers for people in Scotland at Christmas, she knew it was the right way to go.

She now hopes to stage a fundraising concert before Christmas, and Hayman has agreed to come along to support it if his schedule allows. “I would love it if my dad could hear the choir sing his song,” she said. “They are doing candlelit Christmas song concerts at Carfin Grotto, on December 16 and 17, I had hoped to take him along, but I don’t think he will be well enough.”

Tommy, 82, has been in Coathill Hospital, Coatbridge, for 10 weeks since he was involved in an accident on his mobility scooter. Clare said when she went to tell him about the record, he responded well.

“When we played it to him, he waved his fingers as though he was conducting. I told him, ‘We are going to get your record played on the radio’, and he opened his eyes and said, ‘We’ll maybe get it out next year’,” she said.

“He’s not fully aware but I have a great relationship with my dad and I know he would be so chuffed that his wish to help feed people is being fulfilled,” she added.

Well-known Scottish DJ and ‘Ally’s Tartan Army’ singer Andy Cameron, who championed Tommy’s record first time around, rang Clare at home last week to ask after her father and offer his support. 

Tommy has 35 grandchildren and Clare has texted all the family to tell them to get their kids to tell everyone through their Facebook, Bebo and Twitter pages about the song. 

She added: “I think we can challenge The X Factor. It is only a minimal amount that the song costs to download from iTunes. 

“Nobody is going to gain from it commercially or find fame, and I’m sure if we had Simon Cowell’s money it would sound even better! But it’s innocent and childlike, a nice, catchy tune, and people will benefit from it.

“The main thing is let people know it’s out there, so as many as possible will hear and download it to raise money for Spirit Aid.”