A GROUP of ambitious adventurers are hoping to raise over £50,000 by trekking through Iceland for Weldmar Hospice.

Fifteen people will take to the glaciers, lava craters, lagoons and forests of the Nordic country in freezing weather to raise cash for those in need.

They will begin their challenge this Saturday when they fly out to Reykjavik, taking on a five-day walking challenge across Iceland with a sightseeing day back in the city before flying home.

Childhood friends Nicky Buckland, and Clare Ash, both 43 and from Weymouth, say they made a joint decision to commit to a local cause and are excited about completing their challenge.

Nicky said: “I just decided to sign up to it for a challenge really, I have never done anything like this before and it’s totally outside my comfort zone. I’m excited to go on the trek after all the hard fundraising work and training. We’ve had to do lots of hill walking and then walking with backpacks.

“You see nationwide charity fundraising things all the time in the press, but this is a local charity and I think the hospice needs a large amount of money, about £10 a minute, to run. So I hope we will raise a lot of money and make a difference by providing services to those people that need them.”

Clare said: “I’m actually doing the trek because I lost my cousin in April. She’s always wanted to go to Iceland and enjoyed looking for a new challenge.

“So, providing I get through this, I’ll be looking for another one after this.”

Challenge organiser Matt Smith said: “We are hoping to raise over £50,000 which, for us as a smaller charity, is huge. It’s taken over 13 months to plan so it really is a big project. This will make a difference those taking part may meet, or might know, in Dorset.”

“Last year we did a Sahara desert trek and it was so successful we decided to run something again this year.

“We wanted something completely different so chose somewhere a bit colder with Iceland.”

To support the team in their challenge, visit justgiving.com/iceland14 or keep up with their blog on weld-hospice.org.uk/Iceland.