Plymouth Evening Herald deputy editor Bill Martin and picture editor Pete Holdgate have begun a marathon trek from Penzance to Plymouth to raise cash for charity.

The duo set out on their adventure at 6.45am yesterday, and over the next few days they will cover 180 miles, walking around 35-miles a day to raise thousands of pounds for the Herald’s Give A Child A Chance campaign.

Joined by former Royal Marine Ian Perkins and former Paratrooper Jim Hunter, the team began the trek in good spirits.

Pete, (53), said: “We walked into the world’s biggest shower earlier, but the sun’s out now. It’s going well.”

During the trip they will stop overnight at Porthleven, Coverack, Porthscatho, Mevagissey, and Looe before returning to Plymouth on Saturday.

The team will then finish their challenge by running the Plymouth Half Marathon on Sunday, accompanied by a number of other Evening Herald editorial staff, including deputy chief sub-editor Charles Elder.

Bill, (37), and Pete were initially hoping to take part in the Marathon des Sables, dubbed the toughest endurance race in the world at 145 miles across the Sahara Desert, but were unable to obtain guaranteed places.

They are hoping to make £10,000 in sponsorship, and all the money raised will help improve facilities for the 7,000 children and their families attending community child health services within Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust.

The charity will help children in Plymouth who are either disabled or have mental health problems and have to use unsuitable and outdated buildings.