THE mother of murdered toddler James Bulger attended the launch of a charity single to raise money for a home for bullied children in Merseyside. The single, which went on sale yesterday, is a version of Michael Jackson’s Heal The World. The superstar gave permission for the song to be used in one of his last acts before his death in June. It was recorded by a group of Merseyside artists called Bulief, named after James’s surname and his family’s hope of giving children a better future. Unknown to the fundraisers who put the CD release together, the same song was selected by Denise to be played at James’s funeral in 1993. Mrs Fergus, 42, said: “I am thrilled to bits with the record and it is a great way to continue James’s memory. “The words say it all – you could not get a better message and it is the perfect way to get healing across.” An ECHO-backed campaign was launched last year to raise £1m to create the sanctuary for bullied children. The first James Bulger House is due to open in early 2010. The Liverpool refuge will be the fourth in a UK network of Red Balloon learner centres, which support victims of bullying who are missing out on their education. Head teacher Tracy Doran said demand for the 15 places at the centre was so great, they were looking to open two more in Merseyside as soon as possible. Mrs Fergus, who will be a support worker at the new facility, said: “There is a real need for something like this. “I did not realise how many kids were being bullied.” The charity single was co-ordinated by volunteer Terri-Ann Devine, who sings on the record and whose brother Lewis produced it. The £2 single is on sale at HMV stores nationwide and Tesco branches across Merseyside. The song was available earlier this year as a digital music download, but this is the first time it can be bought in the shops. Two-year-old James was murdered after being abducted in Bootle in 1993. | 
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