NICK Gerrard is seeking to raise £10,000 to support Christians in North Korea by taking part in the Muskathlon in South Korea in October.

Those taking part will do either a half marathon, a full marathon, an ultra-marathon or hike of 63 kilometres or a 120-kilometre mountain bike trail.

The event is being organised by 4M Netherlands with Open Doors Netherlands, and Nick, from High Legh, will be taking on the 120-kilometre bike ride.

Open Doors provides practical support like food, medicine, housing, clean water and education as well as micro-loans to start businesses to persecuted Christians worldwide.

It also provide Bibles, Christian literature, training, literacy programmes and trauma training, and works in more than 50 countries.

Concerts being held in High Legh and Lymm this weekend will be helping Nick towards his fundraising, which has an online donations page, justgiving.com/fundraising/nick-gerrard3

Flautist Nicola Gerrard, clarinettist Peter Koetsveld and pianist Jonathan Bramwell will perform on Saturday at 7pm in Lymm Baptist Church.

Tickets are £10, and £5 for children under 16 – available from nickgerrard@gamil.com

Nicola and Peter will also perform on Sunday at 2.30pm at St Mary’s Chapel, Pheasant Walk, High Legh.

Nick said: “I have been a supporter of Open Doors for a number of years because of the burden I feel for those undergoing unbelievable levels of persecution simply for their beliefs and with few people to speak up for them.

“I have a particular burden for North Korea, and have been thinking about doing a Muskathlon for a while to encourage and support these long-suffering Christians.

“What tipped the balance last year was having the privilege of hearing ‘Hae Woo’ - this is not her real name as her family would be in danger if it were known - tell her story about escaping after 16 years in prison (and meeting her), and the Muskathlon being in South Korea in 2019.

“I love a physical challenge in an extreme environment and will be doing the 75-mile bike ride which is over rough and hilly terrain. It is my way of doing what I can to support them.

“Whilst the sum to be raised is huge it is a very small price to ask in relation to what they are paying on a daily basis.

“None of the money raised will be used by me for my expenses as I will cover those.”