TWO marathon runnerss are setting themselves the challenge of a lifetime to help raise funds for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

They plan to tackle the Comrades Ultra Marathon, an epic 52-mile race in South Africa, which competitiors have just 11 hours to complete.

Neil Gray, an instructor at the International Fire Training Centre on Teesside, and Bob Hesp, a firefighter at RAF Menwith Hill, Harrogate, will tackle the event in June.

Both have been running for many years and have taken part in a number of full and half-marathons.

The Ultra will be their first double, running mainly uphill from Durban to Pietermaritzberg.

To get in shape, they plan to increase their training schedules from 50 miles a week to 70 as the date of the race gets closer.

The pair plan to carry out several fundraising and awareness events before their trip, including a sponsored 24-hour row-athon in Ripon's market place in May and various social events at Ripon fire station.

Anyone who wants to help with the fundraising efforts, or who would like to sponsor the pair, should contact Neil on (01325) 331107.

l The Yorkshire Air Ambulance Service was launched in October 2000 and has since flown more than 1,300 missions and attended a wide variety of incidents. It needs more than £1m a year to keep operating.