By Emily Parsons

Last updated at 08:50, Thursday, 14 February 2013

A group of football friends has vowed to take on the renowned Three Peaks Challenge – with a difference.

Front, kneeling, from left, Neil Billingham and Aidan Kirklea. Back, from left, Tom Brocklebank, Levi Van Belzen, Chris Allason, Paul Ryan, Dan Allason, Stephen Prescott and Tim Cousins

Nine men, accompanied by nine bikes, will tackle three peaks and 500 miles in five days, to raise money for Hospice at Home and Tynedale Hospice at Home.

The team have decided not only to climb the three tallest mountains in England, Scotland and Wales, but to cycle between them in the Pure Three Peaks Challenge.

Traditionally the three peaks’ challenge sees groups ferried by minibus between countries, as they endeavour to scale the mountains within 24 hours.

Neil Billingham, 40, from Carlisle, said: “The guys are into their outward bound and running and I don’t know if they had been drinking but they said why not do a fundraising challenge.

“The obvious one was the Three Peaks, but they decided to cycle in between – and I just caught on the end.”

He continued: “We have had to get quite serious and start training quite hard. I am trying to get inspiration from the Tour de France.”

The group all play five-a-side football together in Brampton, but their rigorous training regime has extended to mountainous cycle rides and even spinning classes.

Neil said: “I’m the oldest of all of us – I’ll be 41 when we do the challenge – and we know it will be tough.

“We will cover about 100 miles a day on the bikes, and on three days we’ll climb a mountain too. We just hope to raise lots of money for the charities, which mean a lot to some of the guys.”

The team will be supported by a “dad in a van”, who will carry puncture repair equipment and emergency supplies. They will set off on May 26.

For more information, follow the team on Twitter using @teamuncredibles

First published at 08:41, Thursday, 14 February 2013
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk