CARY - The Green Hope High School marching band has preparing for this year's halftime show since before the school year and football season began.

The band has put in more than 15,000 hours preparing for its show, "The Road Less Traveled," which it will also perform during college football's postpeason at the Gator Bowl in Jacksonville, Fla.

The performance at a major bowl game will mark the band's first appearance on the national stage. The show is based on the famous poem by Robert Frost and intertwines bits of music composed by Beethoven.

But the experience will come at a cost. In these economic times, the band booster program is finding it difficult to raise the required money.

So band boosters are offering sponsorship and advertising opportunities.

If you're interested in sponsoring the band, contact Susan Harper at susanharper@nc.rr.com or band director Brian Myers at 919-303-5157.