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An athletic couple are testing themselves by completing 12 challenges over the course of a year to raise money for the Seashell Trust.

Scott and Justine Straughan, from Wilmslow, decided to face a trial a month for 2015, in the hope of raising £1,200.

Scott, 42, an IT manager, said: “The idea came when deciding what we wanted to do for holiday this year. We had always wanted to walk across England doing the Coast to Coast. That led to getting sponsored and it grew from there as we looked at doing other challenges. Eventually this expanded to a challenge each month. The plan is to increase the level of challenge throughout the year until we get to Great North Run in September then ease back down.”

Already this year, the pair have endured Dry January, skiing Le Face, the terrifying women's international downhill course at Val D'Isere, and running the Inverness 5k and Manchester 10k.

Scott added: “We feel a bit daunted about the scale of the challenges still to do but are looking forward to it. The problem will be keeping injury-free as we get towards the harder challenges from July to September as we are not getting any younger. The aim is to raise at least £1,200 but hopefully will be closer to £2,000.

“I linked up with Seashell when I organised a charity day for colleagues last year. I was very impressed with the people that worked and donated time to Seashell and because of this have arranged more events and fundraising. It was a logical step to support them with these challenges.”

Still to go is Manchester to Liverpool 40mile cycle, and Manchester 26-mile bike ride.

In July they will face the 200-mile Coast to Coast hike, followed by the 26-miles of the Yorkshire three peaks in August.

The pair will then be back on relatively flat ground for the Great North Run, Braham Park 10k and Victoria Park 5k

With December's challenge still undecided, they are considering the Manchester United Santa Dash.

Only a third of the way through their epic effort, Scott and Justine have already raised over £600.

To sponsor the Straughans, visit their page here. 

If the Straughans have inspired you to challenge yourself in 2015 and to raise much needed money for the students at Seashell Trust, please visit www.seashelltrust.org.uk/supporting-us/challenge-events or call Wendy Bray on 0161 610 0168.