But before Glen Tonkin and David Campbell head across the Atlantic to cycle 400km through the Canadian Rockies, they will call upon friends and neighbours to help them reach their target of raising £5,500 for Marie Curie Cancer Care.

Already they have raised £1,300 with a duck race in David's home village of Ballachullish in Argyll, while another £2,000 has been pledged to their campaign through their internet pages.

The pair and their supporters have organised a weekend of fund-raising events in the village to put the total raised for the charity ever closer to the target of £5,500.

First the teammates will join local cancer fundraiser Sandra Cheyne and other volunteers on a trek along the area's popular Wildcat Trail at 9am on May 9 before supporters gather at the village hall that evening for a lively race night.

Special races will be held for those under the age of 18, for ladies and to pitch members of different emergency services against each other. Members of rival shinty teams will also be encouraged to challenge each other to ensure plenty of rivalry to keep interest high.

Then the following day, all are welcome to take part in a Three Ball Texas Scramble at Newtonmore Golf Club.

The pair are heading across to Canada ready to start their gruelling five-day trek across the Rockies on June 20.

Marie Curie was chosen as the beneficiary of the adventure because both men have been touched by the effect of cancer within their own families.

"I lost my father Ian to pancreatic cancer last year when he was just 55," Glen said. "That was the reason I moved back to Newtonmore; to take over his business. And David's grandfather and uncle were diagnosed with cancer recently.

"It affects so many people and we thought this was a good way of trying to help."

* Those keen to join the sponsored Wildcat Trail walk should register at Newtonmore Village Hall at 9am on May 9. The race night will be held at the hall from 7.30pm and those who wish to take part in the Texas Scramble competition should call the club on 01540 673878 to book a tee time.

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