TWO popular sports will be combined in a fund-raiser aimed at helping raise money for eight Burnley people to go on an expedition to the Himalayas.

The Offtrax MTB Challenge is a two day event which will combine mountain biking with orienteering and will see competitors given a set time in which to complete a course of check points.

The location of the check points will be given to entrants who register at Higher Towneley changing rooms in Towneley Park on August 27 from 6pm to 11pm with the challenge taking place the following two days.

On August 28 riders will be challenged to leave Towneley Park and visit as many pre-set checkpoints as they wish during a seven hour time slot. The following day they will have five hours to visit the checkpoints.

The more checkpoints visited the more points accrued by the individual or team, and riders can opt to compete on either or both days. The event has been organised by Burnley firefighter Neil Hardiman with help from the other members of the Himalayan Hands Expedition, his sister Caroline, Debbie Taylor, Steve Catley, Ian Potter, John Chapman and Mark and Sally Clayton.

Neil said: "We are all planning to go to Nepal on November 6 as part of a 50 strong expedition working on various projects.

"We each have to raise £1,650 to make the trip and we have all been organising fund-raising events. The Offtrax Challenge will raise money for equipment as well helping with personal fund-raising targets."

Riders should be able to cover a distance of 25 miles each day and they should be confident of navigating using ordnance survey maps.

For more information and entry forms send a sae to Offtrax MTB event, 61 Burnley Road, Brierfield, Burnley BB10 2HG. Neil can be contacted on 01282 838465.

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