FIFTEEN bands and solo artists from Basingstoke have recorded songs for a charity album.

The Breakthrough Album was launched earlier this month by Dave Holby, who came up with the idea to raise money for Breakthrough Breast Cancer.

Dave, who is on the final stretch of his charity mission to ‘travel around the world’ on a static rowing machine, is determined to raise £55,000 for the cause after his grandmother died of the illness.

He is hoping that sales from the album will bring him closer to hitting his target.

The 29-year-old, of Rainham Close, Kempshott, said: “Our original fundraising target was £55,000 but it’s been so difficult for everyone financially, so I’m thrilled with the £15,000 we’ve raised already.

“I think Breakthrough is an amazing charity – I’ll raise money to support their work for the rest of my life.”

Queen Mary’s College student Stuart Dimond made the album idea a reality by using his contacts to persuade bands to get on board the project and record songs for the compilation CD, which is made of all original tracks.

The 17-year-old, of Silvester Close, Oakridge, Basingstoke, said: “I was organising charity gigs at The Red Lion for Dave to help him raise even more money, and we decided we wanted to do something bigger and came up with the idea of the album.

“Some of the bands are those involved in the Red Lion gigs and they are all local to Basingstoke.

“They all sent in their own personal recordings and Dave got it produced.”

He added: “Dave is a huge influence for me, and he inspired me to do fundraising.”

Among the bands who feature on the CD are The Fortunate, Common Ground and Signal.

Councillor Keith Chapman, mayor of Basingstoke and Deane, held a reception in the mayor’s parlour especially for Dave and some of the bands involved in the project.

He said: “I was honoured to be asked to support this venture and am delighted to see excellent young musicians from Basingstoke and Deane being showcased whilst supporting Dave and his fundraising efforts for Breakthrough Breast Cancer.”

Dave has ordered 100 albums and he hopes that these will sell out.

He said: “I’m thrilled with the album. It’s jam-packed with incredibly talented musicians and they are such lovely people too – I’m just so incredibly proud of them all.”

All money raised from the album’s sale will go to Breakthrough Breast Cancer, and the £7 CD can be bought on Amazon, iTunes or from Dave.