It's a case of going from Last Choir Standing to first choir running for the singers in Bath's hugely popular Male Choir.
They were one of the top choirs on the BBC's popular Last Choir Standing series in 2008 and on March 7 half of the members will be setting out to compete in the 2010 Bath half marathon and raise over £10,000 for charity.
Amongst the runners is conductor Grenville Jones who started Bath Male Choir just 4 years ago. He reckons his choir entry is a choral first. Grenville explains;
"I doubt if any other Male Choir has ever entered a team in a half marathon before, and to be represented by 45 singers has to be a world record!"
At 61 Grenville admits to not being the fittest in the team but he has shed over a stone already and runs every day. He started training back in September and is determined to finish the 13 mile course.
He says:
"We are a choir with many younger men and some have quite a bit of running experience but also many of the lads, like me, are in serious training for the first time in years. Two of my sons, Daniel and Laurie sing in the choir and are both running. "
The runners will be joined by the other 45 singing members at the start line to sing to the 15,000 other competitors as they line up in Bath's Pulteney Street on the Sunday morning of race day.
"It should be quite an experience and the non runners wives and families are all going to be out on the course cheering us on," adds Grenville.
"We will sing The Irish Blessing which starts, 'May the Road Rise to Meet you, May the Wind be ever at your Back.'"
The Choir has set up a dedicated Bank account and whatever they raise will be divided equally between the National Prostate Cancer Charity and the Golden-Oldies Charitable Trust.
They already have £1,870 listed on their justgiving website. All the runners have had shirts supplied by The Running Shop in Union Passage and many local businesses are also pledging support.
Bath Male Choir were special guests of the Prostate Cancer Charity in December singing at a Christmas concert in London's St John's Smith Square. Some of the members of the Choir have been affected by Prostate Cancer.
The Golden-Oldies is the charity that Grenville Jones started in 2008. It now runs hundreds of fun singing sessions for the elderly across the West Region and has attracted World-wide media interest. Many of the choir members support the charity as volunteer drivers and it has sung at fundraising concerts.
"Sunday March 7th is going to be quite a day and with a concert diary already packed with bookings, 2010 is going to see Bath Male Choir once again out in front!" concludes Grenville.
Ends
Contact Grenville Jones on office 01761 472468 mobile 0777 828 2934 jonesgrenville@aol.com
Bath male Choir will be raising money for two Charities - the target is £10,000 - The Prostate Cancer Charity - www.prostate-cancer.org.uk (Reg No: 1005541) and the Golden-Oldies Charitable Trust - www.golden-oldies.org.uk (Reg No: 1121600)
To support the Choir please visit our dedicated Marathon page - click here.
They were one of the top choirs on the BBC's popular Last Choir Standing series in 2008 and on March 7 half of the members will be setting out to compete in the 2010 Bath half marathon and raise over £10,000 for charity.
Amongst the runners is conductor Grenville Jones who started Bath Male Choir just 4 years ago. He reckons his choir entry is a choral first. Grenville explains;
"I doubt if any other Male Choir has ever entered a team in a half marathon before, and to be represented by 45 singers has to be a world record!"
At 61 Grenville admits to not being the fittest in the team but he has shed over a stone already and runs every day. He started training back in September and is determined to finish the 13 mile course.
He says:
"We are a choir with many younger men and some have quite a bit of running experience but also many of the lads, like me, are in serious training for the first time in years. Two of my sons, Daniel and Laurie sing in the choir and are both running. "
The runners will be joined by the other 45 singing members at the start line to sing to the 15,000 other competitors as they line up in Bath's Pulteney Street on the Sunday morning of race day.
"It should be quite an experience and the non runners wives and families are all going to be out on the course cheering us on," adds Grenville.
"We will sing The Irish Blessing which starts, 'May the Road Rise to Meet you, May the Wind be ever at your Back.'"
The Choir has set up a dedicated Bank account and whatever they raise will be divided equally between the National Prostate Cancer Charity and the Golden-Oldies Charitable Trust.
They already have £1,870 listed on their justgiving website. All the runners have had shirts supplied by The Running Shop in Union Passage and many local businesses are also pledging support.
Bath Male Choir were special guests of the Prostate Cancer Charity in December singing at a Christmas concert in London's St John's Smith Square. Some of the members of the Choir have been affected by Prostate Cancer.
The Golden-Oldies is the charity that Grenville Jones started in 2008. It now runs hundreds of fun singing sessions for the elderly across the West Region and has attracted World-wide media interest. Many of the choir members support the charity as volunteer drivers and it has sung at fundraising concerts.
"Sunday March 7th is going to be quite a day and with a concert diary already packed with bookings, 2010 is going to see Bath Male Choir once again out in front!" concludes Grenville.
Ends
Contact Grenville Jones on office 01761 472468 mobile 0777 828 2934 jonesgrenville@aol.com
Bath male Choir will be raising money for two Charities - the target is £10,000 - The Prostate Cancer Charity - www.prostate-cancer.org.uk (Reg No: 1005541) and the Golden-Oldies Charitable Trust - www.golden-oldies.org.uk (Reg No: 1121600)
To support the Choir please visit our dedicated Marathon page - click here.
