A COUPLE have forgone the chance for a party and champagne in order to celebrate their pearl anniversary by trekking around Nepal instead.

Mark and Julie Bennett, from Teesside, will take part in Nepal: The Challenge, in aid of Teesside Hospice for their 30th anniversary.

During their 12 day trip, the couple will trek on varying terrain and volunteer at a local hospice.

Mr Bennett said: “I jokingly said to Julie ‘why don’t we do the Nepal Challenge together?

“At that moment it was as if a light went on in both of our minds. We could combine our celebration with a fantastic chance to give something back and raise some cash for Teesside Hospice.”

After losing his mother to cancer in 2010, Mark regularly organises charity nights at Nunthorpe & Marton Recreation Club and has raised almost £8,000 for the hospice.

Mrs Bennett said: “We want to raise as much money as we can for the hospice so we are contributing what would have been the cost of a party towards our Nepal trip.”

The couple will begin their journey in November 2015.

They ask people to sponsor them in order to make a difference to those that are cared for by Teesside Hospice.

To sponsor Mark and Julie Bennett visit their fundraising page: https://nepal.everydayhero.com/uk/the-benno-s-30th-anniversay-nepal-challenge.