£20k needed to send choir to 'singing Olympics'

A youth choir has been selected to represent Great Britain in the "singing Olympics" in Sweden - but needs an extra £20,000 in funding to get there.

Barnsley Youth Choir hopes to compete in the World Choir Games in Helsingborg in August and then perform at the Edinburgh Fringe, and supporters have already run 1,650 miles (2,651km) in 30 days to raise money.

The choir said it provides a platform for children whose families may not be well-off, but the cost of sending 64 members to Sweden would put the group under "significant financial strain".

Choir director Mat Wright told the BBC: "We're hoping that our young people will really put Barnsley and Yorkshire on the map."

He added: "As a choir the reason we are fundraising is to ensure an equity of opportunity for children in the area.

"We want to make sure no matter what their financial background is, they get the chance to showcase their skill and talent on the international stage."

After the World Choir Games the plan is for a further 180 youngsters to travel to Edinburgh for the annual arts festival.

There are 700 members of Barnsley Youth Choir in total, but it is the senior choir, aged 14 to 24, that will be competing in Sweden.

So far Barnsley Youth Choir has raised much-needed money from its The Great North (Sea!) Run and various other challenges - including 14-year-old Charlotte undertaking a half-Ironman challenge.

She has already completed a 1.1 mile (1.9km) swim and a 55-mile (90km) bike ride and she tackled the 13-mile (21km) run earlier.

Charlotte, from Hoylandswaine, told the BBC: "I do triathlons normally, but nowhere near this long.

"The most I've ever done on a bike is 10km - so it's like a lot more than what I would normally do.

"My legs are feeling OK after the bike yesterday. I took it very easily, but it was boiling, it was really hot."

She added: "We did not plan for it to be in a heatwave."

Charlotte has raised about £1,500 and when asked what Barnsley Youth Choir means to her, she said: "It's amazing, the community, everyone there just feels like a family."

Wright, who set up the choir 17 years ago, said there is "something very special about Yorkshire folk" as they "really get behind each other".

He said even the children who are not going are working hard to raise money for those who are.

"That's a really moving thing for me", Wright added.

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