I was planning to write a paragraph about Russell but then i discovered a letter again that i´ve written to him about a year ago (5th of March 2010). That letter explains exactly how i feel about him. He and his music have been in my life for such a long time now (since 2001) that it feels like he is a really, really good friend now. I never got a reply to that letter but ONE DAY i want to give him that letter IN PERSON so i know he got it. I´m including that letter in this email. I just feel a weird sort of connection with him because we both been through life threatening illnesses (He was literally almost killed by his brain tumour and i had a suicide attempt because of my depression) so I KNOW what he´s been through. I could go on for hours about Russell but I don´t want to bore you anymore with Russell so i´ll attach the letter now. x

Dear Russell,

I´m sending this letter to you to say a very big THANK YOU. I´ve been suffering from clinical depression since 2008 and your music and watching you struggle with your health problems gave me the necessary strength to keep fighting. In 2009, the depression got worse (including a suicide attempt) but then I remembered reading your autobiography in which you talk openly about your brain tumour(s). I also remembered your concert in Portsmouth in 2008 where you looked at us and said: ´It´s good to be alive´. That sentence I keep repeating to myself whenever the depression takes a turn for the worse again. I also discovered your song ´Always there´ during that time:´When life brings me to my knees, when my back´s against the wall you are standing there right with me just to keep me standing tall.´ That statement pretty much explains how much your music means to me (especially in the last two years). The depression was (or is) a result of a lot of things going wrong in my life in a very short amount of time (including unemployment and then almost becoming homeless) but your music has been in my life for the past 10 years and it´s really helping me through this difficult time. I just wanted you to know that both you and your music really influence peoples´ lives and that it´s a real support system. The depression´s still not gone but I keep telling myself: ´You need to keep fighting so you get better so you can go to a Russell concert again.´ Plus your music reminds me of the 9 years I´ve spent in England – where I also discovered your music- and thinking about England is a reassuring thought because most of that time was a very carefree and happy time. All I´ve got left to say now is: ´Cheers Russell for everything you´ve done without knowing it. And congrats on 10 years as a recording artist.´

Love,

Marlene x