RALEIGH – They practice for hours a day.

"[There is] a lot of blood, sweat and tears," said band member Taylor Poole. "I have fallen -- so actual blood."

That's why she said the West Johnston High School band has earned their opportunity to go to the Big Apple next month.

The 185-member ensemble is one of just six high school bands from across the nation invited to play at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Poole has watched the event on TV since she was little.

"It would make a lifetime moment. Where even in 30 years, I'm sitting at home on the couch watching the Macy's Day Parade, I can say, 'I was there,' " Poole said.

This won't be West Johnston's first time performing in front of millions. In 2005, the band marched in the Inaugural Parade in Washington, D.C.

But the band will only make it back to the big stage if it's able to raise all the money for the trip.

They need a total of $100,000 by Nov. 1. So far, the band has collected close to $65,000.

With $35,000 to go, band members are kicking their efforts into overdrive by selling cookbooks and raising money any way they can.

"It's incredibly important," band member Kendra Lisec said. "We're doing all we can to fund raise and help raise it ourselves, but the money has to come from somewhere."

Head Band Director Lance Britt is confident the band will play in New York. The group even has a mock painting of the street where they'll perform plastered on the school's parking lot.

"These kids are going to represent our area in front of 43 million people on live television. I don't know a better way to showcase what's great about this area, this community, but by letting our youth perform in front of the world," Britt said.

To find out how to help, call West Johnston High School at (919)934-7333.