Fort Myers High School Greenwave Band. (Credit: WINK News) A group of high school students is getting ready to march on the international stage. Leaders from London came across the pond to officially ask the Fort Myers High School marching band to be in the city’s 2023 New Year’s Day parade. The parade is massive, twice as many performers as the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and broadcast across the world, but it’s going to cost students a pretty penny to get across the pond. Organizers with London’s New Year’s Day parade traveled more than 4,000 miles to hand Fort Myers Band Director Lederian Townsend the special invitation. “A lot of the kids, this will be their first time leaving the country so it’s going to be an eye-opening experience culturally, obviously financially but spiritually too to go out and see things being done in the other side of the world,” said Townsend. More than 10,000 performers will fill London’s streets on Jan. 1, 2023. Millions of eyes will watch them perform live and on TV. “I didn’t think it was real because like that’s the biggest trip like that just sounds out of this world. It’s going to be so cool,” said freshman saxophone player Tori McGuigin. Junior Grace Basey, a dancer with the band said, “it’s an amazing opportunity for us to even get the experience to go somewhere that isn’t America.” But that comes with a hefty price tag. $425,000 for all 125 students to make the trip. “Spread the word because we are going to need a lot of help with the fundraising,” said McGuigin. But this is not the first rodeo for the Fort Myers High School marching band. They raised money to march in the 2007 and 2017 London New Year’s Day parades. So students are confident they’ll get to enjoy this trip of a lifetime. Those kids have 13-months notice to raise the money they need, $3,400 a person. The band will hold a holiday concert on Dec. 10, and sell poinsettia plants in an effort to raise some of the money needed. You can help with the fundraising too. The school released a statement explaining how you can help the band get to London: The cost to attend this once-in-a-lifetime performance opportunity is $3,400 per student. We are hoping the community will chip in to help us reach our goal. We also encourage donations of any size from area businesses and commercial organizations. As part of its fundraising efforts, the Fort Myers High School Music Department is hosting a Holiday Concert on Friday, December 10 at 7 p.m. in the Fort Myers High School Auditorium to raise funds for participation in the famed London parade. Tickets are $15 at the door for general admission and $20 for VIP seating. Families and children are welcome. Monetary contributions should be made payable to FMHS Greenwave Band Boosters, Inc. and mailed to Fort Myers High School, ATTN: Greenwave Band Boosters, Music Department, 2635 Cortez Avenue, Fort Myers, FL 33901. Red and white poinsettias for $20 per plant are also being sold by the band. Orders including color selection and check must be received by November 20 at the school’s address. They will be available for pickup at the Holiday Concert on December 10.