CHARITY walking pals Lorraine Hacking and Sarah Foster are hoping three is a lucky number after tying their legs together for a challenging hill climb.

Determined to help raise cash for their friend, cancer sufferer Gemma Feeney, the women decided to try out an adult version of the school sports day favourite, the three-legged race.

On Saturday they spent several hours marching 16 miles from the Hope and Anchor pub in Doffcocker to Rivington Pike and back.

Accompanied by regulars from the pub, the women were kept fortified with drinks and sandwiches along the way and celebrated reaching the top of the Pike with a bottle of champagne. Lorraine, aged 42 and Sarah, 31, are hoping that when all the cash is counted they will have raised more than £1,000 to help pay for revolutionary treatment being undertaken by 27-year-old Gemma, from Deane.

For the last three months Gemma has been in Mexico undergoing the treatment, which includes injections of a B17 vitamin.

The treatment will cost nearly £15,000. "Gemma is on her way back home now and hopefully it has gone well," said Sarah.

In the meantime, Lorraine and Sarah are nursing their sore legs and reflecting on their latest challenge.