A Bermuda-made song celebrating children makes its debut on local airwaves today.

The Promise, featuring a duet between cousins Gita Blakeney and Preston Swan, proclaims the sanctity of childhood and the commitment of adults to protect them.

It has been launched by the Coalition for the Protection of Children to mark April as Child Abuse Prevention Month.

The song, written for the coalition by Tom Anthony, a New York-based songwriter, was remade with local artists and producers.

“It was written for us as a gift years ago, and we’ve been working since to get it produced as a Bermudian song,” said Sheelagh Cooper, the coalition’s chairwoman. “John Woolridge at Platinum Studios really added to the song. Its primary purpose is to inspire. We also hope people will be able to buy it online to support charity.”

Ms Blakeney, who works at Pathways addiction treatment service, said she had been privileged to take part in the labour of love.

“It was magical — the premise around it is one of hope for our children, which resonated for me personally and professionally,” she said. “It’s a tribute to our community, to acknowledge the power of our relationships with our children. Preston and I had never done anything like this together and I thought it was a wonderful way to celebrate the spirit of the song. We’re also first cousins.”

Mr Swan, who sings with Hamilton town crier Ed Christopher in the duo Prestige, told The Royal Gazette that the song had come as a departure from his normal material.

As vice-president of quality and risk management for the Bermuda Hospitals Board, Mr Swan’s schedule proved about as hectic as his cousin’s. “I did my track, Gita did hers, and John did his magic. It was certainly a worthwhile, meaningful cause. I like the songs and the words, and if it raises awareness of the plight of children then that’s what we wanted to do.”

Yesterday Ms Cooper made the rounds of local broadcasters dropping off copies of the song.

An online version, intended at raising funds to be divided equally between the coalition and Pathways, is to be announced in the days to come.