A TEENAGER is set to embark on a gruelling challenge - all in the name of her world-famous choir.
Charlotte Docherty, from Hoylandswaine, will take on a half ironman triathlon over three days next week which includes a 1.9-kilometre swim, a 90km bike ride and a 21km run.
The 14-year-old, who has raised about £1,500 for Barnsley Youth Choir so far, will run on the Trans Pennine Trail, swim in Stocksbridge and cycle on a North Yorkshire loop which will take in Fountains Abbey, Ripon and Boroughbridge.
She’s expecting to complete the Herculean challenge on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.
Charlotte said: “I’m doing the half ironman triathlon over three days to raise money for Barnsley Youth Choir to represent Britain in the world choir games in Sweden, and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival this summer.
“Being part of this incredible organisation has given me life-changing opportunities including performing in the prestigious Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, the Montserrat Monastery in Spain, and the South African Drakensburg mountains all alongside the people at choir that feel like my second family.”
Her dad, James, praised his daughter’s mammoth challenge.
“She’s incredibly busy but we’re hopeful of completing the swim, run and cycle ride over the three-day period next week.
“The choir’s absolutely brilliant and Charlotte loves being a member, so she wanted to help raise as much as possible for their forthcoming trip to Sweden and Scotland.”
Barnsley Youth Choir is a registered charity, formed in 2009, and provides choral training to around 700 children.
Its bid to win at the 14th World Choir Games - set to be held in Helsingborg, Sweden, from August 6 - has seen an army of fundraisers embark on multiple challenges in an effort to help fund its members’ journeys to the event.
As well as the Sweden trip, funds are also being raised for 240 singers, aged between seven and 24, who will perform in the iconic Greyfriars Kirk at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival between August 18 and August 22, capping off a busy period for the choir.
Mat Wright, the choir’s artistic director, added: “We’re so proud of Charlotte and so many other children and young people that are working so hard to raise funds to make this trip possible.
“We’re so grateful to the Barnsley community for getting behind these amazing singers.
“Representing Great Britain in the World Choir Games will be an experience that they will never forget, and they will be fantastic ambassadors for our town.
“They are all working so hard - I hope that people will donate and get behind them.”
To donate, visit gofundme.com/f/charlottes-half-ironman-for-byc.
