A GROUP of community-minded people have set themselves the monster challenge of raising £10,000 for charities in Cumbria by exercising 10km everyday in June.

Last year, Sammy Norman, and a couple of friends, decided to run 10km everyday in June to raise awareness, and money, for vital organisations in Carlisle.

He's doing it again this year, but he is joined by more than ten others who are keen to support charities that are much needed in the city.

Their fundraising goal of £10,000 is also much higher.

He said: "The idea was to raise funds for ten charities which Ann Ford felt needed it most like Period Poverty.

"Last year, me and three others ran it, and we raised around £1300-£1400 but this year I managed to get a bigger team together."

The charities that the group is raising money for includes: Carlisle Refugee Action Group, MIND, Carlisle Key, Cumbria Pride, and Gateway for Women.

It was through conversations with the volunteers at Raffles Community Centre, and Ann Ford from Period Poverty North Cumbria, that Sammy realised the extent of poverty within the city.

"I was kind of unaware of how bad the situation was in Carlisle in regards to poverty," he said.

"I was shocked that there are children out there that don't even have enough, they go to school with no food and the teachers have to bring food in for them.

"I thought how can we be living in a society where it's okay to spend £300-£400 on a three course meal but yet just down the road from us is someone who can't have even afford their babies milk."

So, the group will be running, walking, or cycling 10km every single day this month to raise money to support people in Carlisle - and beyond.

They are tracking their daily progress on Facebook and at the time of publication, they had already raised more than £800.

"So far it has been amazing and the team we have got this year is incredible."

To support the group, visit Go Fund Me.