Uphill challenge for Brass Sounds Inverclyde

Brass Sounds Inverclyde won the fourth section at the 2016 Scottish Championships.

AN Inverclyde brass band is facing a huge uphill task as it prepares to represent Scotland at the National Finals later in the year - the highest mountain in Britain.

Brass Sounds Inverclyde (BSI) is aiming high with its fundraising challenge, which will see members scale Ben Nevis before holding a concert at the summit.

The plans come after the band, conducted by Chris Mansfield, triumphed in the fourth section at the Scottish Championships, qualifying for the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain in Cheltenham in September.

A spokeswoman for BSI said: "We are looking forward to going to the National Finals but it's going to take lots of fundraising on top of all the hours of practice.

"It shows just how far BSI has come. In 2014, the band wasn't able to take part at the Scottish Championships due to lack of personnel and some feared its days were numbered.

"Over the past couple of years, the band's fortunes have improved and BSI has regained its strength. Climbing Ben Nevis will ensure band members are fighting fit ahead of the trip to Cheltenham."

The band is to launch a Kickstarter fundraising page to collect sponsorship money for the climbing challenge. It will go live on May 1 and donations will be able to be made via the page or directly to band members. Further details of how to support BSI can be found on the band’s website www.bsiband.uk or on Facebook.