James Bulger's mother Denise Fergus has made her first-ever personal appearance at a public event since the murder of her son in 1993.
Denise was be guest of honour at the launch of an outdoor concert to launch a charity record that will raise funds for James Bulger House.
Radio City presenter and entertainer Pete Price - a long-time supporter of Denise - generously acted as celebrity compere for the second half of the show at Liverpool One.
Before his death Michael Jackson gave a recording licence for one of his songs to Bulief - a group of entertainers formed to help raise funds to create a centre for the recovery of bullied children in Liverpool.
Bulief have recorded a CD single version of Jacko's 1991 hit "Heal the World" which gets its nationwide retail launch on 2nd November.
Only after the Bulief version was was recorded that the group learned that the song had been one of two selected by Denise to be played at James Bulger's funeral in 1993.
Proceeds from sales of the £2 single will go towards James Bulger House, which will form part of the growing network of Red Balloon specialist learning centres.
Denise appeared on a stage at the Liverpool One at the end of the four-hour show that was staged to launch the CD.
Said Denise: "This is a first for me because I have never appeared in public before a crowd of people before and I was a bit nervous.
"But helping to raise funds and working to create this lasting memorial to James is something that has allowed me to write a new chapter in my life.
"I feel that I have turned a page and moved on in my life to create something that will benefit kids who really need help.
"In the worst cases some bullied children become so desperate that they self-harm or even take their own lives.
"Red Balloon changes and saves lives and if James Bulger House can prevent the death of just one child it will be worth all the effort that has gone into it.
"It will be a fitting memorial to James."
Bulief leader Terri-ann Devine added: "We started just doing this on a small scale for a charity concert in Merseyside.
"It got a good reception and people asked where they could buy the record.
"The idea grew from there and we decided to issue the CD and got Matchbox Records involved.
"The record goes in the stores on 2nd November and we are delighted that Tesco have agreed to take it and give it a special promotion starting on Merseyside.
"We considered a lot of songs when we were decided which one to record and I was amazed when Denise told us that Heal the World had been played at James' funeral.
"It seems like it is more than just a co-incidence. Some things are meant to be."
Denise added: "I'd like to offer my thanks to all the artists and supporters - especially Pete Price - involved in the CD and the concert today.
"I would also like to thank all the people who have given so generously to the James Bulger House Appeal.
"It is a really worthy cause so I hope that people will continue support us so that we can make it a reality very soon."
Hela the World, by Bulief, can be downloaded from
http://indiestore.7digital.com/matchboxrecordingsuk/
Olivia Westwell, Bournemouth around 1 year, 4 months ago