AN INSPIRATIONAL choir is set to appear in a national concert at an iconic venue, but it needs your help to get there.

Bolton Cancer Voices formed just five years ago and is open to anyone who has received a cancer diagnosis.

There are currently around 40 members who range from being newly diagnosed and in treatment, living with cancer as a non-curable condition and others who are cancer survivors now many years on from their diagnosis.

The choir is to perform at the Festival of Brass and voices at the Royal Albert Hall in London in November next year.

The event is especially poignant for the Bolton choir as it raises money for Cancer Research UK.

The concert has been held every three years for almost two decades and brings together choirs from across the UK with two brass bands.

BCV chairman, Karen Elliot, said: “There really couldn’t be a more pertinent event for us to be a part of, as cancer research in the broadest sense has saved, extended or improved the quality of life of every one of our members.

“It’s a big risk for us because of the financial implications but it’s such a phenomenal, once in a lifetime, opportunity, that we just couldn’t let it pass.

“Everyone is so excited. It will definitely take us to the next performance level in terms of technical ability, performance skills and confidence.”

There are no membership fees for the choir so it has to raise £7,000 each year to keep going.

Taking part in the Royal Albert Hall event will cost the choir an extra £13,715 and it has set up a fundraising page to help it towards this goal.

The money is needed for music, travel to regional rehearsals, travel to and from London, travel to and from the hall, two nights accommodation, meals and a contingency.

Ms Elliot said: “Our members are truly amazing: they seize the day and live life to the full no matter what their story. We owe it to them to keep fresh, exciting and challenging opportunities on the horizon, so everyone has something positive to focus on, no matter what else may be happening in their life.

By far, this is our most ambitious and costly undertaking to date, but to us no price can be put on the benefits our members derive from their “

The choir has already raised £2,000 towards its target and has now started a JustGiving page to make the remaining money.

To donate go to www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/bolton-cancer voices or contact Karen Elliot on 01204 595562.