A PAIR of mountain rescuers are set to endure a gruelling 55km trail race to raise cash for their team and the Lake District's search dogs.

Kendal Mountain Rescue Team members Kerry Ballard and pal Richard Walker only a few weeks ago made the rash decision to take on the challenge.

The duo hope to raise £500 which they will split between the Kendal team and the Lake District Mountain Rescue Search Dogs (SARDA) who they help to train.

"Without public money neither of these organisations would run," said said Kerry, of Staveley, who owns The Floristry in Kendal. "Kendal MRT is reliant on public donations as they don't have the money that some teams do and I think SARDA tends to get forgotten about."

Kerry and Richard, of Endmoor, are two of the group that help train the dogs and they are hoping to raise vital funds by getting people to sponsor a body part.

"When we get a call out saying broken ankle, broken arm, dislocated elbow, head injury etc etc, we have some medical kit specifically for certain parts, so it's just a way to make it a bit fun," she said.

The dog owners may not be strangers to the great outdoors but from their usual 'rambles' out on walks, they have had to pick up the pace recently.

"I've done marathons before and go fell running whereas Richard is a big climber - we're both big mountain people," added Kerry. We've been scoping out the routes and doing short fast runs, and long walks.

"We know we're not getting round quickly but we're tackling it with a view of getting round, and if we raise money in the process that's great."

Richard, a shift technical officer at BillerudKorsnas in Beetham, and Kerry will embark on the circular 55km course that starts on June 27 at Rothay Park, Ambleside, and winds over the Kirkstone Pass, through Glenridding and does several routes around Langdale before the finish line.

For more information and to donate visit www.justgiving.co.uk/kendalmountainrescue