I'm running 262 miles (the equivalent of running from London to Barnard Castle) over 3 months to raise money for the freelance musicians struggling to survive with no income thanks to coronavirus.

Can you imagine spending your whole life perfecting a skill and building a career only to see your livelihood disappear overnight?

Throughout lockdown most of us have missed the joy of going to concerts, gigs and shows. We've longed for the sense of connection and electric energy we experience during live performances.

But while the closure of concert halls, gig venues, festivals, opera houses and theatres has been tough for audiences, the impact on the musicians working in the sector is far more serious.

All of their work has dried up. Most fear it will be a year before it returns. 

That means a year of no income for the thousands of freelance musicians that create the performances we get so much pleasure from. That includes many of my closest friends and family.

Will you help me help them?

Throughout lockdown Help Musicians have been providing financial support to musicians that have seen their livelihoods disappear overnight. 

With government support drying up, the number of musicians needing their help is about to increase significantly.

Inspired by Dominic Cummings' recent jaunt to Barnard Castle I've decided I'm going to try and do the same thing. Of course, I'm not actually going to go to Durham - that would be silly (and most definitely a breach of the lockdown rules). But I am going to attempt to run the equivalent distance - 262 miles - by August.

(Fun fact: 262 miles is equivalent to 10 marathons)

This is a virtual run, so rather than heading off up the M11 I will be doing all of the miles around the parks near my house. To complete the distance I have to average 3 miles (about 5k) a day for three months. 

If all goes to plan I should reach the virtual Barnard Castle on 31st August - the day the Self Employed Support scheme (and the lifeline for freelance musicians and performers) runs out.

I'd like to try and raise £1,500 for the Help Musicians Hardship Fund - enough to provide 3 hardship grants for talented musicians hit hard by coronavirus.

Could you chip in and help?

Donations of all sizes will support the people who give us so much joy during their time of need. For example, you could:

* Donate £10 to sponsor a mile, or

* Donate £30 - the cost of a gig ticket - to sponsor a day, or

* Donate £60 to sponsor a weekend (because we all know weekends should be for chilling out in the garden and not pounding the pavements of South London)

However much you are able to give - thank you! Your donation will ensure that performers can get through lockdown and that the show WILL go on!

P.S. I'll be mapping my progress along the virtual route with daily updates here and on Twitter. You can follow along here - https://twitter.com/DavidBurgessFR/status/1268122055893016576