A NORTH Yorkshire couple have taken on an intense year of fitness challenges to raise £5,000 for charity, after witnessing the impact of Multiple Sclerosis.

Chris Pooley and Ali Roy, from Harrogate, are to compete in 17 gruelling challenges over the next year to help raise money and awareness for the charity.

Mr Pooley, who works at Pinnacle Data Systems has seen first-hand how Multiple Sclerosis has affected one of his colleagues, who is living and working with the illness. Now, along with girlfriend Ali, he is to complete 17 different fitness challenges over the next year to raise a significant sum for the MS Society. The couple will be completing a variety of events across the UK from 10k runs and obstacle courses to muddy races and marathons.

“After witnessing how life changing the illness is for individuals and their families, I knew I had to try hard to raise as much money as possible for MS Society,” he said.

“It’s been tougher than we thought it would be, we’re currently using three separate personal trainers to keep in shape and it’s definitely having an impact on our social calendar too. But we have really committed to the cause and are working hard to reach our fundraising target as we start to tick the challenges off the list.”

The couple has already raised £900 towards their target and Pinnacle Data has pledged to match the final amount raised.

For more information on the full list of events and to keep up-to-date with the fundraising efforts, visit www.mudactually.com.