A FUNDRAISING community project between a military wives' choir and North Yorkshire bands has won the backing of William Hague.

Harmonies For Heroes is a project involving Reeth Brass Band, Muker Silver Band, the Military WAGS Choir Catterick, and pupils from Richmond School.

It will result in a CD launch at a celebratory concert in aid of the Help for Heroes recovery centre, Phoenix House, at Catterick Garrison.

The money raised will go towards a £100,000 appeal launched last week by The Northern Echo to build a Wellbeing Centre at Pheonix House for sick, injured or wounded service personnel and veterans.

Carol Gedye, musical director of the Catterick choir, met Richmond MP Mr Hague recently to explain the aim of the Harmonies For Heroes CD, and the concert on Saturday, March 15 at Richmond School.

In a video of the meeting posted on YouTube, Mr Hague told the choir: "This appeals to me in so many different ways.

“First of all it's a great activity in the community that I represent here in North Yorkshire, involving so many different people; it's a wonderful thing to do.

“Secondly it's for a great cause. That's perhaps the most important thing of all, and therefore it's raising the money and getting the support for a cause we all want to support.

"And third, I've heard you’re rather good at it as well - so when you bring those things together, this is something we all have to get behind.

“It will be great if people could give their support, through all the terrific work you've done, by buying this album. They'll enjoy it, but they'll also be supporting, as you say, looking after our heroes for a long time to come."

The Harmonies for Heroes CD launch concert will include performances by the Military WAGS Choir Catterick, Muker and Reeth Bands plus entertainment by dance and drama students of Richmond School.

The Northern Echo editor Peter Barron will be compere for the evening.

Tickets are available in advance priced £10 for adults and £4 for children from Castle Hill Bookshop, Richmond Tourist Information, The Wives Kitchen, and Richmond School, all in Richmond; at Studio 19 in Catterick; at Reeth Post Office; at Wobbly Dog in Leyburn; and online at www.militarywagschoir.co.uk.

The new Wellbeing Centre at Pheonix House will incorporate specialist sport facilities, including a wheelchair basketball court and archery range, and a space for theatre and arts activities.

Since the £100,000 appeal was launched in last Wednesday's Northern Echo, more than £700 has been donated.

*To support Phoenix House directly, donate by sending a cheque to Help For Heroes, along with the form that ensures the centre will keep the cash, and post to Phoenix House Recovery Centre, Richmond Road, Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire, DL9 3AW.

Click here to print the form.