The initiative Folk Cancer: The Kate McGarrigle Project, is an initiative that provides professional studio recording time to musicians living with cancer.

Folk Cancer aims to offer musicians an opportunity to record their own song, to preserve their music. Rufus and Martha Wainwright were inspired to begin the initiative by their late mother, musician Kate McGarrigle who passed away in 2010 from sarcoma.

“Near the end of our mother’s life, music became everything to her,” says Rufus Wainwright. “It was clear that the process of writing, performing, singing — and singing with others — was hugely helpful to her.”

“Because of that, my brother and I continue to provide support for musicians and songwriters struggling with cancer,” added Martha.

The Canadian folk singer-songwriter, Kate McGarrigle performed with her sister Anna as a double act. Their hits include ‘Swimming Song’ and ‘Heart Like a Wheel’, and the sisters earned themselves a Melody Maker's Album Of The Year for their self titled debut album in 1975.

Folk Cancer: The Kate McGarrigle Project will officially begin on December 3 in a launch party. Special virtual access can be acquired by donating to the cause on their website cancercanrock.com/folkcancer