A TALENTED teenager, whose debut single topped the music charts, is set to scale new heights... by climbing Britain’s highest peak to coin in cash for a Glasgow hospital. 

Mayah Herlihy will take on Ben Nevis this month to raise money for the Beatson Cancer Charity in honour of her cousin Mel Welsh, who spent time in the West End hub receiving treatment for leukaemia. 

And as well as taking on the mountain, the 14-year-old will donate all of the proceeds from her new single Your Fight, which she penned during Mel’s stay in the Great Wester Road hospital and decided to release in celebration of her cancer going into remission. 

READ MORE: Mayah Herlihy's On My Way hit played in parliament by Glasgow MP David Linden

Mayah, whose first song On My Way soared to the top of the country charts, said: “I was only 13 when I wrote the song and wanted her to know that we were all there for her. 

“She absolutely loved it, so I have always wanted to release it but was waiting for the right time.

“I decided the best time to do it was a couple of weeks after she had announced she had gone into remission. 

Glasgow Times: Mayah, her sister Bonnie, and cousin Mel Mayah, her sister Bonnie, and cousin Mel

“I thought that would be a good way to celebrate that and to donate all of the money raised from it to the Beatson. “

Mayah, who attends Brannock High pupil in Motherwell, North Lanarkshire, added: “She has been so supportive. She was the first to know.”

Songstress Mayah last year became the youngest ever artist to sign up for Main Street Records, in Coatbridge, and will be joined by her manager David Blair for the climb, with the pair also walking the 10km Off the Beatson Track and a 23 mile Kiltwalk this month. 

“I’ve always loved raising money for charity and to have that opportunity to do it for a cause close to my heart feels amazing,” she added. 

“Hillwalking is something I have never done. So it’s a physical and mental challenge and I am looking forward to it.

Glasgow Times: Mayah's new single cover was captured in Mount Vernon Park Mayah's new single cover was captured in Mount Vernon Park

“I’ll be doing it with my manager Davie, who is doing it for his mum.” 

Mayah, who lives with her parents Joanne and Martin and siblings Brendan and Bonnie, has enjoyed a breakthrough year in 2021. Not only has she topped the charts, but her second song, Follow the Sunshine, was chosen as single of the week on the BBC Radio Scotland’s The Afternoon Show. She was the youngest-ever artist to earn that title.

READ MORE: Glasgow teen Mayah Herlihy takes first steps to stardom with debut hit

“The last couple of months have been great,” Mayah, who captured the artwork for Your Fight in Mount Vernon Park, just yards from the home of her grandparents Ronnie and Josephine McKenna, said: “I released my second single and then was named as the youngest ever artist to be chosen as singe of the week on BBC Radio Scotland’s Afternoon Show. That was a great achievement for me.

“It’s been a bit of a struggle trying to balance with school. We are working towards our assessments, so it has been a bit hard at times but I am feeling good about it all.” 

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