A TEAM of three from a Hexham Music store are taking part in this weekend’s Run Bike Run in Kielder to raise money for community music projects.

Ben Heathcote, Rachel Heathcote and Owain Bennett, from Core Music in Hexham, will be completing the challenge, to raise money primarily for their ‘Ucorelele’ project.

Ben said: “I am a long distance runner and have previously done all of the distances at Kielder other than the Run Bike Run.

“I really wanted to get the full set and Owain is a long distance cyclist, so that’s when we decided to put a team together.

“Having been to the Kielder Marathon before, I know it will be a good day; it’s one of my favourite runs to do.”

The ‘Ucorelele’ project, which was set up in 2014, teaches instrument-making skills using recycled wood and other materials that would otherwise have been discarded.

Those who are long-term unemployed can get involved with the project, and as well as contributing to the instrument making, they can gain skills which may aid them in finding employment.

But Ben said that the project needs vital funding to keep it running.

“We are hoping that as well as getting sponsors through our Local Giving page, we will also be raising awareness of what the project does.

“Hopefully people who are interested will buy a ucorlele and help the project to become self-sustaining.”

Ucoreleles can be purchased in the Core Music shop in Hexham or online from their website.

The Run Bike Run event takes place tomorrow, starting at 1pm, and will follow an almost entirely off-road course around Kielder Water.

It will be followed by the Kielder Marathon and half marathon, to be held on Sunday, October 2, beginning at 10.15am.