FUNDRAISERS got in the wet and windy spirit today (Friday, March 27) as they urged people to enter the WearSlide challenge tin aid of a North-East hospice.

Sean Cove, 24, Steph Eadon, 23, and brother Chris Eadon, 26, donned the t-shirts of their chosen charity – St Benedict’s Hospice at Ryhope, Sunderland – and braved buckets of freezing cold water to raise awareness about WearSlide, which takes place in Herrington Country Park on Sunday April 26.

The trio, all from Washington, will be joined for the 300ft slide challenge by Steph and Chris’ brother, Peter, 28, a captain at the Royal Military Academy in Sandhurst, their sister, Sarah, 23, and Chris’ partner Toni Earl, 22.

The WearSliders are keen to raise funds for the hospice in thanks for the superb care given to the Eadons’ father Phil, 57, for throat cancer.

Steph, head coach at Boldon Tennis Club, said: “They’ve taken such fantastic care of my dad that we wanted to give something back.

"We’re all really sporty so we can’t wait for the challenge and we’d urge others to sign up and raise funds for St Benedict’s too.”

Phil and wife, Anne, used to have a marketing and events company, The Allancia Group, before Phil’s illness. He was well known as chairman of Newcastle United Women’s Football Club.

Catrina Flynn, fundraising manager at the hospice, said: "We thought we’d help them out with a little practice session today – and they were very brave given the wind at Ryhope.”

There is still time to take part in WearSlide on behalf of the hospice, for details call 0191 512 8435 or email fundraising@stbenedicts.co.uk.