Leicester based musician, Alex Joseph, is releasing poignant charity single ‘Never Gone’ to commemorate the lasting legacy of UK #1 tennis champion Elena ‘Bally’ Baltacha, timed to coincide with Wimbledon 2017.

Singer-songwriter Alex Joseph, 34, from Ashby-de-la-Zouch, knew Bally from his time playing on the junior tennis circuit, and remembers the late Olympic athlete fondly from that time. He has created a touching tribute song and plans to donate 50% of the proceeds of sales to the Elena Baltacha Foundation.

The aspiring songwriter, who works for the Tennis Foundation in London, has been writing music for around ten years. He has already written songs to raise money for organisations such as the ITF Wheelchair Foundation, GB Wheelchair Basketball and GB Wheelchair Table Tennis, and when he saw a news bulletin last year about the Elena Baltacha Foundation, and recalled Bally’s heart-breaking death in 2014, he felt moved to write another track that reflected Bally’s spirit, her passion for helping others, and above all, her legacy.

“Any organisation that helps to enrich lives through tennis is a no-brainer to support”

Alex commented:

“When I saw that news bulletin, I just knew that I wanted to write a song about Bally. It was an easy track to write as it came from the heart – I already knew her inspirational story and I wanted to pay my respects and highlight her achievements as well as help to keep her amazing legacy alive - something which the Elena Baltacha Foundation are building on to this day.”

“The melody and music of ‘Never Gone’ just seemed to come together effortlessly – of all the songs I’ve written, this is the one I feel the most emotional connection to because of my memories of Bally – and any organisation that helps to enrich lives through tennis is a no-brainer to support”

Nino Severino, Elena’s husband and Chairman of the Elena Baltacha Foundation commented:

“When I heard Alex’s moving tribute to my late wife Elena, I knew that the Foundation and I just had to get behind it. The song reminds me of Bally’s kind nature and everything she meant to so many people.
“Bally will never be gone all the time that her work and legacy are carried on through the Elena Baltacha Foundation, and tributes like this will help keep her memory alive so that we can carry on with the fantastic work she started before she lost her fight to liver cancer in 2014. Please support the Foundation and download the single!”

‘Never Gone’ will be available to download from iTunes and all major music download outlets from Monday 3rd July.

Alex will be donating 50% of all proceeds from the 79p single to the Elena Baltacha Foundation, which was established to harness the generous fundraising and outpouring of support from the world of professional tennis (and the public) after Bally’s tragic, untimely death. The Foundation carries on Bally’s ambitions to introduce more children to tennis, and enables the important work that Bally started with her original academy in Ipswich to continue and grow.

CONTACT
Alex Joseph: ajosephmusic@gmail.com
Nino Severino: nino@elenabaltachafoundation.org
Foundation Enquiries: 07966 032 161

NOTES TO EDITORS

ELENA BALTACHA
Elena Baltacha was women's British Tennis No.1 intermittently between 2002 and 2012. She won eleven ITF singles titles and four ITF doubles titles, was also a runner-up in three ITF events in singles and four in doubles and won the Aegon Nottingham Challenge in 2011 and 12.

Elena was also part of Team GB at the 2012 Olympics, representing Great Britain in both the women's singles and doubles competitions, where she partnered with Anne Keothavong. A WTA top 50 player, in her best year she achieved three top 10 wins at quarter final stages of premier WTA tournaments.
She was diagnosed with liver cancer in January 2014, just a few weeks after marrying long term partner and tennis coach Nino Severino, and died 4th May 2014.
The Elena Baltacha Foundation was created to help bring Tennis to children who might not have had access to sport otherwise; and following her death, the foundation ensures that her legacy is kept very much alive.

The Elena Baltacha Foundation

ALEX JOSEPH

Alexander Joseph is a singer-songwriter who has released a series of singles associated with various sporting and educational organisations and charities.
​He originally dreamed of becoming a professional tennis player. In addition to working as a sports coach he now combines his passion for music with managing the physical preparation of athletes on the GB wheelchair tennis programme. When not writing songs, he works full time for the Tennis Foundation in London.

www.ajosephmusic.com
Download from Alex's iTunes page