THE MARK VIDUKA tribute song has charted at number 93 as Boro and Australia fans continue raise much-needed funds for MacMillan Cancer Care.

Hallelujah Mark Viduka, by Boro fan Alistair Griffin, can be downloaded from the website www.indiestore.com/alistairgriffin.

All profits from will go towards MacMillan Cancer Care to help improve the lives of those who are touched by cancer.

The reworded version of Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah was written by former Fame Academy runner-up Alistair to sing the praises of Boro's popular striker. The project was delayed while the organisers awaited the green light to release the remake from Cohen himself.

"Sony told me we were unlikely to get permission but then I got a call and they told me Leonard Cohen had said yes," said the modest musician. "He's obviously quite public-spirited and decided to let us do it given that the money was going to charity."

He sang it for the first time at Middlesbrough FC's fundraising fashion show, dinner and concert at the Riverside, a night that brought in over £30,000 for MacMillan. At that time he had no intention of releasing it but was talked into it after the reaction from Gareth Southgate and his squad.  

The tribute has since been aired on the Riverside's PA system and to the players in the Boro dressing room, receiving widespread praise. Alistair's website at myspace.com has received more than 60,000 hits from fans keen to hear the song.

Viduka said: "I'm touched, if a little bit embarrassed, to have a song in tribute to me. I've been ribbed by my team-mates about it but it's all in a good cause so I really hope Boro fans - and maybe Aussie supporters too - will take time out to download it and raise more cash for MacMillan."

Songwriter and striker met before the Manchester City game and to Alistair's delight, Viduka, who is also a keen guitarist, thanked him for his efforts.

"The players were all very friendly and Yakubu even came up and asked me when I was going to write a song about him!"  

Viduka's Boro team-mates Jonathan Woodgate, Stewart Downing and Lee Cattermole all supported the club's MacMillan fundraiser, which was organized by community liaison officer Diane O'Connell. It included a fashion show starring Cattermole and team-mates Andrew Davies, James Morrison, Matthew Bates, Adam Johnson, Tony McMahon and David Knight.

Alistair plans to get back to the studio as soon as possible to continue working on songs with his new band, Albion.



It can be dowloaded on www.indiestore.com/alistairgriffin