A group of dads from Epsom are donning their walking boots to complete an epic charity challenge.

The team of 28, known as ‘The Trailblazers’ are attempting to walk un-guided around the Isle of Wight Coastal Path in just two days on June 8.

They are hoping to raise £15,000 which will be split between the purchase of outdoor play equipment for St Martin’s School and local charity, Harrison’s Fund.

The charity works to fund research into Duchenne - a rare genetic condition which affects all the muscles in the body, causing them to waste away.

James Faulkner, 43, said: “We all have children at St Martin’s School and unfortunately a number of their classmates have been diagnosed with Duchenne.

"As dads ourselves our hearts go out to what these families have to face every day, so we are determined to complete this challenge for them and do them proud.

“We’ve been training every weekend and building up our distances as we get nearer to the big day. A number of us have walked long distances before having completed challenges such as the Three Peaks, a 155 mile footrace in six days across the Atacama Desert, the Welsh 3000, Everest base camp, the Inca Trail and walking up Mount Kenya and Mount Kinabalu but there are a few however for whom this will be their first challenge, but they will be well supported by the rest of the team.”

Aiming to walk 38 miles on the first day from Niton to Cowes in a clockwise route, then the dads will trek 31 miles on the next day from Niton to Cowes anti-clockwise.

The dads, who range in age from 35-50 years old, include James Faulkner, Paul Dewis, Charlie Bruce, Simon Clouting, John Croome, David Lyle, David Fortune, Nathan Ashworth, Richard Bell, Simon Hawes, Carsten Frederiksen, Matt Baker, Grant Spicer, Adrian Chorley, James Royle, James Raw, Tim Lambert, Paul Fenwick, Paul Linney, Ben Bawden, Keith Howell, Barry Panayi, Chris Booker, Andrew Hayes, John Gerrard, Matt Cantwell, Chris Evans and Darren Claughton. .

To make the challenge even harder, the team are undertaking it completely self-navigated without the benefit of a guide and typically the challenge is not attempted in 48 hours.

Luci Roberts, Fundraising and Campaigns Executive at Harrison’s Fund said: “We wish the dads the very best of luck with their challenge, it sounds like an exciting one.

"All the money raised by them means so much to a small charity such as ours and will help us to fund research into better treatments, so our children can have a life past childhood.”

To support the Trailblazers please visit https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/iowtrailblazers