RECORDS could be broken today in Vale Royal as three fitness fanatics try to push their bodies' boundaries while raising money to beat cancer.

Hayley Ridgway, of Cherry Crescent in Winsford, and her friends Marc Reynolds and Richard Eden, plan to enter the record books by running for 24 hours on treadmills at the LA Fitness club in Northwich.

The trio, all experienced athletes, have been chalking up the miles and gorging on huge amounts of pasta, potatoes and chicken in preparation for the formidable task that awaits them.

Hayley said: "We decided upon this challenge one evening while in a circuit class. We had all been discussing doing something wild, while wanting to raise money for the Royal Marsden Hospital in London and its cancer research and treatment unit.

"Marc lost his father to cancer last October and he was treated at the hospital."

Hayley added: "We have had strict training schedules to follow, running up to 70 miles a week. We have lost count of how many pairs of trainers we've gone through.

"Our shopping bills have gone up as well - the amount of food we have to consume is unbelievable and of course it all has to be healthy."

Hayley, who has run more than 20 marathons in the past six years, appealed for residents to go to the gym today, Wednesday, to cheer the trio on and added: "We haven't set ourselves a minimum amount to raise but we hope that the companies who are sponsoring us will donate favourably for an unusual and demanding challenge that is also for a good cause."

rfraser@guardiangrp.co.uk