A TEAM of journalists has signed up to help raise funds for a Weston charity in the Mercury Mendip Challenge. A group of hardy hacks from the Weston & Somerset Mercury will pull on their trainers and take part in the trek for Weston Hospicecare on June 3.

A TEAM of journalists has signed up to help raise funds for a Weston charity in the Mercury Mendip Challenge.A group of hardy hacks from the Weston & Somerset Mercury will pull on their trainers and take part in the trek for Weston Hospicecare on June 3.The team will be walking the five-mile fancy dress stretch along the seafront, one of five routes available on the day.More people are needed to sign up and take part in the challenge and help raise vital funds for the charity, which is based at Jackson-Barstow House in Uphill.Penny Beare, fund-raising and communications manager at the hospice, said: "There is a 30-mile route starting from Wells, a 20-mile walk from Cheddar, a 15-mile route from Shipham and a 10-mile route, beginning at Kingswood near Winscombe. "A five-mile fancy dress event will also take place along Weston seafront on the same day."The charity is providing a free bus service from its Jackson Barstow House to the various route starting points on the day. After the walk, which ends at the hospice, there will be a barbecue with live music.Anyone who wants to take part in the Mercury Mendip Challenge can visit the website www.westonhospicecare.org.uk/mendipwalk or call 01934 423900 for more details and an entry form.Forms are also available from Weston Hospicecare's shops in Weston, Worle, Winscombe and Cheddar, the Mercury's reception desk in Waterloo Street, and the charity's headquarters in Uphill.