Two West Bridgford Choirs have completed a marathon to give back to the community in their main fundraising event of the year.
The West Bridgford Social Singers and Everyone Can Sing took on the challenge to raise money for the Motor Neurone Disease Association, NHS Hayward House and Hope Nottingham.
The choirs have raised over £9,000 and said they are going to continue to raise more money for the community.
Both choir groups completed 26.2 miles running, cycling, or walking through the Trent Valley, starting and ending in West Bridgford.
Some members of the choir undertook a 52 mile cycle route for an added challenge.
Sally MacDonald, a member of both choirs who led the walkers, said: “Every year we nominate charities we want to support.
“They’re all nominated by our members so they always have a place in our heart.”
The marathon has been an annual challenge for the last five years and the choirs aim to make it as inclusive as possible.
“It’s always been very inclusive because a lot of people in our choir are older,” she said.
“Last year we introduced a walk for the first time, and we’ve also had people rowing – it’s quite something to have someone rowing 26 miles.”
Sally added that some members of the choir undertook a 52 mile cycle, describing them as a “crazy little bunch”.
“It’s a great sense of community that we have which is lovely,” she said.
“It’s what our choirs are all about.
“It’s about being together and enjoying that love for singing.
Jan Perrett, a secretary of the committee for the Social Singers, said: “Obviously we sing, but everything we do is for charity.
“We are a community choir so we try to involve as many people as possible.”
The choirs work closely with the charities they completed the marathon for, and are engaged with them throughout the year.
“We do quite a lot of interaction in the community,” she said.
“We’ve engaged with Hayward house quite a lot because we go to sing to their outpatients.
“It’s just lovely to be giving back to people and seeing people smiling and enjoying what you’re doing and having a laugh too because it’s not all serious stuff.”
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