THREE runners, who describe their abilities as 'ordinary', have pledged to raise £11,000 for disadvantaged youngsters by taking part the same marathon every day for 10 days around Windermere.

Their physical and mental challenge begins on May 12 as they fundraise for youth charity Brathay Trust, based in Ambleside.

The Brathay ‘10in10’, described as the UK’s ultimate endurance running event for non-athletes, is 10 breath-taking laps around the beautiful and hilly edges of Windermere through honey-pot villages. It starts and ends at Brathay’s head office and residential centre near Ambleside.

This challenge was devised by academic and Brathay Fellow Sir Christopher Ball. He was 72 when he ran the first 10in10, having only begun running five years earlier.

Ninety-four people have run the 10in10 at least once and, in doing so, they have raised over £1million for Brathay’s ground-breaking work with young people.

Mathew Bellingham, 39, from Windermere, started running in 2009. He has completed the Keswick to Barrow 40-mile walk as a run for the last three years. He has also taken part in the Lakeland Ultra, a distance of 110K, which has to be completed in 24 hours. He explained why he signed up for the 10in10.

“I believe that what Brathay provides for young people is essential," he said. "If people will sponsor me to put my body through a little bit of pain then that is great. I live just down the road from the charity’s head office so I have no excuse not to do it.”

Joining Mathew are two runners from Ulverston. Jim Abel, who is 37-years-old, and publican Trudi Dewar, who is 42. Five other women and eight other men are also taking part in this year’s event.

Whilst Trudi, from The Stan Laurel, has little marathon experience, having only ever run one before, she has had plenty of experience of supporting the ‘10in10ers’, including husband Paul, over the years.

She said: “I have watched, lived and breathed the Brathay 10in10 for the last four years as part of the official support team. Last year it finally got under my skin and I thought, if they can do it I can too. I hope that if people see someone without an endurance running background doing this they will also have a go at pushing themselves out of their comfort zone” added Trudi.

Father of two Jim Abel says he took up running when he realised he was overweight and unfit, getting out of breath going upstairs. He wanted to be able to run around with his children. Since his first marathon in 2012, Jim has completed many others including seven ultra-marathons and three Ironman Triathlons.

Further information about the runners, video clips as well as donation and event details can be found at: www.brathaychallenges.com