TWO Barrow runners are among seventeen hoping to raise £100,000 for a youth charity through an epic 10 day running challenge.

From yesterday until Sunday May 19 they will each run the same marathon every day, a lap of Windermere.

It is to support Ambleside based Brathay Trust’s work with vulnerable children and young adults.

Now in its 13th year, 116 people have completed the Brathay 10in10 - some many times, and one person six times - raising over £1million for the charity.

With ascents totalling 1,400ft (430m), it is as much a feat of mental endurance and it is physical said Brathay’s head of fundraising, Scott Umpleby – himself a long distance fell runner.

Three runners are from Cumbria.

Forty-nine-year-old Sonja Farish is a swimming teacher, fitness instructor and leisure centre duty manager. She returns for her fourth ‘10in10’.

Also from Barrow is 27-year-old James Thomas, who works for BAE Systems.

This is his first ‘10in10’.

It is also a first for 28-year-old Matt Whitehead from Bowness-in-Windermere, a former Lakes School pupil, and who works at RAF Cosford.

Mr Umpleby said the runners are always well supported along the route by locals.

He said: “The encouragement and smiles that the 10in10ers get as they pass through the same villages each day makes a huge difference.”

The final marathon for the 10in10ers is also the ASICS Windermere Marathon, with a record of over 1,200 people entered this year.