A COUPLE have nearly completed their charity challenge of tackling 12 gruelling events over 12 months to raise £12,000.

Ty and Terri Hankinson, from Darlington, came up with the idea after taking part in a sponsored run last year in aid of The Leo Fund charity, set up by friend Sally Dale.

Mrs Dale’s son, Leo, died before birth in August 2010 and afterwards she set up the fund to support other families affected by stillbirths, and it inspired the Hankinsons to do their bit to help.

Mrs Hankinson said: “Ty texted me from work with the idea of doing 12 events in 2012 to try to raise 12 grand, and I just said, ‘oh go on then’.

“Our friends have all been really supportive and most have got involved in a lot of what we’ve done – though some of them say we must be mad.”

So far the Hankinsons, of Wederly Close, have completed nine events, including a coast-to-coast cycle ride, the Darlington 10K, the Great North Swim and Coniston Epic Swim, plus the Lyke Wake and Hadrian’s Wall walks.

Mr Hankinson, who recently celebrated his 50th birthday, is preparing to tackle the 10k Newcastle Stampede cross country run next month and the 10k Leeds Abbey Dash to bring his challenge tally up to 11.

Mrs Hankinson, 47, is looking for two swimming related tasks after aggravating an old knee injury which now requires surgery. “It won’t stop me,” she said. “It just means I have to focus on the things I can actually do.”

As well as raising money for the Leo Fund, they are also fundraising for The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation, Sands, the Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Society, Macmillan Cancer Support and Tody’s – Teesdale Opportunities for Disabled Youngsters.

Their 12th and final challenge is to hit the £12,000 mark and the Hankinsons have held quiz nights in Darlington and are planning cake sales and other fundraising activities.

Mrs Dale described her friends’ actions as “fantastic”, saying: “They are amazing.”

The money donated to the Leo Fund will be used to support families dealing with the trauma of stillbirth by providing practical help and advice with issues such as funeral arrangements and creating memory boxes.

It may also be used in future to help fund counselling sessions for affected families in the region.

Mrs Dale, who spent several days in intensive care after Leo was stillborn, said: “We have been through some really tough times, but we’ve come out the other end and the support from people we know has been very touching.”

The Hankinsons have raised more than £7,000 and anyone willing to help them reach their £12,000 target can sponsor them by visiting justgiving.com/Terri-Hankin son1