CHARITY fundraisers are looking for supporters to take part of a physically-demanding challenge to help support disabled children.

More people are needed to take part in the Yorkshire Three Peaks to raise money for the Heel and Toe Children’s Charity, based in Chester-le-Street.

The walk is 24 miles long and is expected to take groups of walkers around 12 hours scale Whernside, Ingleborough and Pen-y-ghent.

Caroline Nevin, the charity’s fundraising officer, said: “It is a long walk so it is quite demanding.

“We are saying that children can get involved if they want to, but that is up to parents’ discretion.

“There are no restrictions on age, but people have to have some level of fitness to be able to walk that distance.

“There will be one guide for every ten walkers so there will be plenty of people there to help you along. It is a great challenge for people to try.”

The charity was started over ten years ago to help children with cerebral palsy but has now expanded to help youngsters with all manner of physical limitations and special needs.

It currently helps 200 children a week from across the North-East from its headquarters in Front Street, Pelton.

The charity is also planning to expand its services at the hydrotherapy centre at Perkinsville, which opened in November 2018.

It is not Government-funded and relies solely on donations to raise the £600,000 a year running costs.

Ms Nevin said: “We are the only charity in the region that provides these kind of free therapies.

“We offer conductive education and children can go on a weekly basis.

“We now have children with special educational needs or who need speech and language help. What we do is quite broad now.

“Raising this money is very important for the families who use our services because it means that we can keep the charity open.

“We have got quite a long waiting list now, and we don’t really want to have a waiting list, we want to be able to provide the therapies to people who need it and help as many children as possible.”

The challenge, in the Yorkshire Dales, is on April 25, costs £15 to registers and participants are asked to raise a minimum sponsorship of £149.

The fully guided walk starts at 8am from Chapel-le-Vale.

So far 40 people have signed up and the charity hopes for at least another 20.

To get involved call Ms Nevin on 0191-386-8606, email caroline@heelandtoe.org.uk or visit: www.heelandtoe.org.uk/events