THIRTY miles down the canal in the pouring rain!

Not a fun trip on a barge, but imagine doing it on foot and in less than five hours.

That's what two brave runners from Ribbleton did when they set out to raise money for St Catherine's Hospice in Lostock Hall, near Preston.

Brothers Kevin, 30, and Graeme Sergeant, 29, left Lancaster at 6am and by 11am they were racing into Preston having clocked up hundreds of pounds for the cause.

"It was exhausting," said Kevin: "I was shattered and my knees were killing me."

The pair were followed by Kevin's wife Tracy, 27, and several walkers who took a few hours longer.

IF you want to get fit and help the hospice, then how about taking part in the sponsored bike ride in June. The event run by the Ribble Valley Cycle Club, includes three distances: 50 miles round the Trough of Bowland; 30 miles through Bleasdale Fell; or 20 miles round Chipping. Last year the ride drew around 500 cyclists of all abilities who raised £70,000 for St Catherine's.

Anyone with a bike is welcome, it's on June 29 and starts and finishes at Preston College.

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