A group of 10 people from Launceston are preparing to embark on a 54 mile sponsored walk, through the night, from Launceston to Plymouth and back to raise money for Cancer Research UK.

On Friday, May 8 the group of six men and four women, led by Simon Gregory and Ross Bowen of Ambrosia in Lifton, will set off at 9pm on a mammoth walk which should see them arriving in Plymouth at around three o'clock in the morning.

Then after a halfway stop off break near Derriford Hospital for a change of clothes and refreshments, the group will make their way back on the second leg of their arduous journey.

The Bakers Arms in Launceston will be welcoming them back at 3pm with a reception of free food and drinks to celebrate their achievements and to support them in raising funds for vital research into cancer.

Staff at Ambrosia Creamery, part of Premier Foods, voted to support Cancer Research UK as their charity of the year and have pledged to raise £250,000.

Simon Gregory decided to organise the challenging walk after a close family member was diagnosed with breast cancer and he felt it was really important to do something positive to help others.

Simon said: "It could be anyone of us that has to go through this nightmare and we must persist in order to reach our dream of a world without cancer."

Cancer Research UK is the world's leading independent organisation dedicated to cancer research. It supports research into all aspects of cancer through the work of more than 4,250 scientists, doctors and nurses across the UK.

Over the past 10 years alone, thousands of lives have been saved through earlier detection and improved treatments. But, much work remains to be done if we are to achieve the aim of beating cancer.

Sam Williams, Cornwall Volunteer Manager at Cancer Research UK said: "By raising funds for Cancer Research UK, Simon Gregory, Ross Bowen and the rest of the group will be undertaking something quite extraordinary: supporting life-saving work and raising awareness of a disease which will affect one-in-three people in the UK at some stage in their lives."

Anyone wishing to support the charity through the group's efforts can do so by visiting http://www">http://www. justgiving.com/simon­gregory1