Supporters of The Victoria Foundation, a Richmond-based medical charity, are taking part in a five-day trekking and cycling challenge in Brazil.

The funds will help to provide mobility aids for disabled children and toolkit grants for students from disadvantaged backgrounds studying medicine.

Graham Ball, founder and CEO of the charity, who is part of the team heading off to Brazil, said: “This is one of the toughest challenges yet but our supporters have trained hard to ensure they will complete it.

“I cannot thank them enough for taking part and for the funds they have raised which will help to transform so many lives in our local community.”

So far the team has already raised £27,000 of its £30,000 target.

The trekkers will be walking up to six hours a day in stunning scenery and sleeping in hostels at night.

The cyclists will have the Atlantic Green Rain Forest on one side, the Atlantic Ocean on the other as they complete the 350km cycling challenge.

The epic journey finishes at the famous carnival city of Rio de Janeiro where the trekking and cycling teams will meet up for a celebration.