A GROUP of friends face a gruelling race against time when they attempt a charity challenge over land and sea.
The four men, Steve Felsberg, Phil Stokes, Julian Celere, and Ashley Stokes from Wrexham, Chester and Ellesmere Port, will take on a 50-mile bike ride, a 3,117ft climb up England’s second-highest peak and a two-mile canoe course in the space of a day.
The brave band of buddies are raising funds for medical research and they are appealing to Chronicle readers to help them raise more than £4,000.
“Action Medical Research is a funding group that relies solely on charitable donations that gives funding to medical research groups in many fields,” he said.
“I am confident the research covered by this group will have touched the lives of someone that is close to all our hearts during our lifetimes.
“Our training started in February as we all had our individual challenges to meet, whether it be basic fitness levels or weight loss programs to fulfil. I am delighted with the effort that has been shown thus far.”
They will start the Race the Sun event, organised by Action For Charity and based in the Lake District, on September 5.
They will set off from Penrith, in Cumbria, and cycle 22 miles to the base of Helvellyn, where they face a lung- bursting three-and-a-half hour return trek to the summit.
After that they will cycle to Lake Thirlmere, where they will complete a two-mile course before jumping back on the bikes and cycling the 26 miles back to Penrith before the sun goes down.
The fundraisers, who have called themselves the Virgin Tri’s, have received sponsorship from specialist bike store The Bike Factory, Boughton, Chester. They will wear specially designed kit carrying the name of the business for the event.
