A KIDDERMINSTER man will be taking on a gruelling challenge this weekend to help raise money for a cause close to his heart.

Joe Dyer and his friend Marcus Wright will be tackling the world’s longest obstacle course at the Rat Race Dirty Weekend at Burghley, in Lincolnshire, on May 9 in aid of Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research UK.

The course is 20 miles long test of strength and endurance and features more than 200 obstacles which have to be negotiated through mud and water and they anticipate it will take between four and six hours to complete.

Joe, aged 25, decided to raise money for the charity after being diagnosed with Non Hodgkin’s Lymphoma at the age of 17.

He said: “There were many hard times had and I am very grateful of the all the treatments I received. I am now in remission and hope to help others by raising money for further research.

“This event is going to test my mental and physical fitness but will be worth every step. I am running this race for the charity but also to push myself and test my limits.

“Since being in remission I have been training and pushing myself in all things. On my Journey I have met many people along the way.

“On this particular journey Marcus has been a big part of all the training and the fun that comes with it.

“We know that this event will be a mental and physical challenge for both of us but we will make it across the finish line no matter what it takes.”

To support Joe and Marcus, you can donate to their Just Giving page here.