OUR recent chilly weather has been "just the ticket" for a trio who will be setting off to much colder places this spring to raise funds for charity and take part in one of the big world challenges.

Stephanie Brimacombe from Yeoford with Rupert Nicholson and Tom Williams, from Bath and Portsmouth respectively, will be training in the London areas where they live and work, as well as their home towns over the next three months before setting off on the 2010 Polar Challenge race to the North Pole.

All aged 26, they have been preparing for two years for the race and have, so far, raised £30,000 of their target £50,000 for their chosen charity, Mencap.

Their latest fundraiser was a White Collar Boxing Tournament held in Wandsworth, London, last month, which saw the whole team, including Stephanie, take part. More than 450 people attended the evening which raised more than £16,500 for Mencap.

All three are now focussing on gaining weight while maintaining an ever-increasing level of fitness and endurance.

Esporta Wandsworth sponsor them so they can train for the race locally, providing them with a personal trainer four times a week. They are also supported by Berghaus and Tissot watches.

If you would like to learn more about the team and why they have taken on this challenge, get involved with some of their fundraising events or donate to Mencap please see their website (http://www.thedarkesthorse.co.uk">www.thedarkesthorse.co.uk or http://www.justgiving.com/teamdarkhorse2010">www.justgiving.com/teamdarkhorse2010) above or contact: Tom Williams: 07786 657083, Stephanie Brimacombe: 07772 710601, or Rupert Nicholson: 07793 561407.