THREE pals are gearing up for the challenge of trekking from coast to coast using a mixture of horse and leg power.

Olympic torchbearer Clare Thompson and Joy Goddard, who work at Wilburs Gym on the High Street, will be joined by friend Vicky Rutherford for their latest fundraising adventure – a six-day run/gallop from St Bees in Cumbria to Robin Hood’s Bay, North Yorkshire.

Clare has the uneviable task of running 34 miles a day for the challenge, while Vicky will complete it on horseback and Joy a combination of the two.

It might sound like Joy and Vicky have the easier end of the bargain, but try doing a million squat thrusts in one week and see how you feel by the end of it.

“It is going to be really tough,” said Joy. “I got such a buzz out of running down to the capital with Clare ahead of her London Marathon challenge and we’ve been planning what crazy fundraising effort we could do to top that.

“Vicky had a dream of riding her horse from Portugal to England but we thought this was more realistic!”

The trio will be raising money for the Multiple Sclerosis Resource Centre and Saffron Walden & District Riding For The Disabled Association, where they paid a visit to launch the hunt for sponsorship.

“The look on children’s faces when they get on a pony for the first time is so special and it makes such a difference in their lives,” Clare said. “I brought along my Olympic torch to show them all and it was so sweet to see the excitement in their eyes when they were told they were going to be in the paper holding the torch.”

The aim is for the challenge to take place next April but for it to go ahead the trio need �3,000 sponsorship from local businesses to pay for the logistics of it.

Call Joy on 07929 588843 for more information.