The Gazette’s music appeal on key as donations roll in...

Just two weeks on from the launch of The Gazette’s Give Us A Tune appeal, this is the astonishing reaction to our campaign to leave a lasting musical legacy in the resort.

We asked readers to donate 50 instruments and £20,000 to help subsidise music lessons at Blackpool Music Academy, which is based in Waterloo Road.

Days on from launching we now have 17 instruments with more on the way – and we hope to hit the halfway mark this week.

Susan Moore, of Clifton Drive, South Shore, donated a trumpet which belonged to her husband to the Gazette’s campaign.

She said she got involved after reading stories in the paper about the work the academy does.

She added: “The reason I did it was because I bought it for my husband. He just could not play it.

“I just thought ‘it’s sat in the cupboard’. I usually donate these things to charity shops but went online and found this place.

“The campaign is for people who cannot buy them. It can be expensive.

“We wanted to help out and for it to go to an excellent place.”

Founded by John Shaw in 2006, and funded with Lottery cash, the academy was created with the aim of making music accessible to people from all walks of life. Classes at the facility cover a range of instruments from the keyboard to the ukulele and no experience is necessary.

Mr Shaw said the response so far has left him amazed – and urged Gazette readers to help hit the 50 instrument target.

He added: “The help we have had from people has left me so grateful.

“This response will give people a fantastic opportunity to learn an instrument – but we still need to keep encouraging people to donate.

“I am sure we can achieve our target very soon with readers’ help.”

• To donate money to the academy go to www.blackpoolmusicacademy.com or to provide a musical instrument call (01253) 695398.