A 12-hour marathon is being held all day, but it's not the normal running event one would expect, and no roads will be blocked off.

The online musical marathon fundraiser, organised by Adam McLean, is being streamed live from 9am to 9pm, to raise funds for Foundation 4 Music.

Hosted at Tahatai Coast School, special guests include Tiki Taane, Dan Sharp, Ash Laforteza, John and Kyle McLean, Marc Joseph, Andrew McDonald, Left Hand Break, and Bay Music School kids.

Adam McLean and Ash Laforteza with school children involved in a music programme

'I started Foundation 4 Music at the beginning of the year to give more kids and their communities the opportunity to be involved in music,” says founder Adam McLean.

Adam is a musician who previously worked as a primary school for eight years and is the founder and manager of Bay Music School and Bay Originals. Married to Cayley, the couple have two children – Louis and Andie. Adam performs as a professional musician at functions, corporate and wedding events.

'The intention for Foundation 4 Music was to allow youth from all walks of life to access music. This charity has been split up into four main areas – concerts, instruments for leaders, staff professional development, and sponsoring children into music programmes.”

Foundation 4 Music helps provide live music opportunities for schools and their cvommunities which increases personal wellbeing.

'We have a mission to spread our reach within the Bay of Plenty and Waikato region to schools of all deciles and sizes,” says Adam.

The fund also enables leaders within the school and community to have instruments that can be used to further musical opportunities. Adam says that teaching staff within the schools to learn an instrument so they can teach others also provides sustainable support.

Each hour during the 12 hour music marathon is being sponsored by businesses including The Wooden Farmer, Tirau Earthmovers Ltd, Owlets Forest Early Learning Centre, Music Planet Mount Maunganui, Mr Mac's Books, The Flying Mullet, Dan Sharp Music, Van Dyks, Graham Brown a& Co, George Street Real Estate and the Putaruru Rugby Club. Listeners are also encouraged to donate and lift the tally higher by the hour.

Follow the live stream click here

9am Friday Night James

10am Original Hour featureing Skye Hine

11am The McLean Brothers

12pm Bay Music School Kids

1pm Ash Laforteza

2pm Andrew MacDonald

2.30pm Marc Joseph

3pm Left Hand Break

4pm Dan Sharp

5pm Adam McLean

6pm John McLean and the McLean Brothers

7pm Tiki Taane

8pm Jam it Out.

Anyone wanting to make a contribution to Foundation 4 Music can donate to the bank account Foundation 4 Music, 06-0379-0257141-03. Once your donation is made please text 021 173 2516 or email foundation4music@gmail.com with your amount to confirm and to update the running tally.