A FUNDRAISING fitness challenge for a team of advertising staff proved to be a stalemate amongst colleagues as the two teams could not be separated.

Over a six week period, ten members of staff from The Northern Echo swapped their headsets for training sessions as they prepared to take part in the Office to Athlete Charity Challenge in aid of St Teresa’s Hospice.

And on Saturday they all faced off against each other after taking full advantage of the help offered by personal trainers from Darlington-based fitness company Boxfit and Foxfit Health Club.

They will be taking on a number of challenges ranging from the longest plank to sprints on trampet, and to the most punches in one minute and the most press-ups in a two minute session.

As well as the fitness challenge, which was refereed by former world champion boxer Glen McCrory, people were invited to come along to the fun day where there was range of activities for all the family.

The two teams went head to head, even though we all work together you could cut the tension with a knife after how competitive we all were.

The final challenge was make or break and when it came down to it brothers Stephen and Michael Jordan but they could not be separated.

Rebecca Postgate said: "The final charity day was amazing. It started to pour with rain but we were determined not to let this ruin our day. The challenge was hard, but at the end we all felt amazing, we all beat personal bests from the beginning with help from the Boxfit Team.

"It was great to work with a local charity to show our support and raise all that money for a great cause. I look forward to work with the Boxfit team again."

The eight people who faced off in the challenge – Ryan Fenwick, Christopher Stones, Amy Cooke, Jasmine Davies, Stephen Jordan, Michael Jordan, Charlotte Dean and Rebecca Postgate.

The day raised £2,235.44 for the charity.