A fundraiser will be hunting down the competition when he takes on one of Cumbria’s toughest obstacle courses – in a giant T-Rex costume.

The man underneath the costume is Dale Hedley, from Carlisle, who admits the idea is a bit crazy but says it will be worthwhile to raise some money for his chosen cause.

The 30-year-old is hoping he can take a bite out of the £15,000 needed to buy a specialist wheelchair for Sammy Armstrong.

Following a combination of serious illnesses Sammy, 27, of Hethersgill, near Carlisle, has been left trapped in her house and is desperately trying to get a wheelchair so she can have some freedom.

Dale, from Morton, has known Sammy for a number of years as she was a customer in D & D McWilliams opticians where he works.

“Sammy used to be able to come into the shop, then she started coming in using a wheelchair then she stopped coming in,” said Dale. “I knew there were health problems and I spoke to her mum Lesley and she said they were raising money for a new wheelchair and I thought why not go and do something.”

So Dale decided that he would enter Gelt Gladiator, a mud-filled obstacle challenge which takes places near Brampton tomorrow and Sunday.

He’ll be one of more than 2,500 people taking part in the event in Gelt Woods which features more than 30 challenges.

But Dale will be taking on the challenge with a difference.

“My friends had seen someone do Ninja Warrior with a T-Rex suit on and they thought it would be a good idea for me to do it in one. They had it all planned,” he added.

“It will get noticed and get a lot of attention for the cause.”

Dale is not stranger to endurance challenges having done Gelt Gladiator before and six Total Warrior events last year.

“It’s certainly not going to be as easy as usual. It will be interesting to see how the costume survives barbed wire.”

A group of friends will be supporting Dale armed with duct tape to make sure the suit makes it to the finishing line.

This year about 1,200 youngsters have entered Gelt’s 3km challenge, which includes 15 obstacles, making it the most popular category of the four on offer.

Just 100 people are taking on the 10-mile course.

To sponsor Dale go to www.gofundme.com/SammysWheelsOfFreedom.