MARTIAL arts experts will swap their fighting gear for running kit to race 130 miles in six days for charity.

Members of Jon Jepson Martial Arts Academy, in Darley Abbey, will take part in a coast-to-coast run from Cumbria to Newcastle.

It is part of a fund-raising drive in memory of teenager Nisha Ramchurun, a former member of the group, who last year lost her five-year battle with cancer. They aim to raise £5,000 for childhood cancer charity Clic Sargent.

Instructor Paul Mansfield, 44, a fourth-degree black-belt, has been training for the challenge by pounding the 16 miles to work from his home in Woodville.

He said: "Nisha was just 17 when she passed away and last year we did a 12-hour martial arts event to raise money for the charity. This year we decided to do something different. I've never run a marathon in my life – now I'll be running six in six days.

"There are a lot of uphills, but you just have to think they will be equalled out with a lot of downhills."

Joining Paul on the run is second-degree black-belt Herbie Kaur and first-degree black-belts Richard Meynall, 20, and George Carter, 18, all from Littleover.

The team has been in training for two months. They have been eating lots of pasta, jacket potatoes and porridge – but, quipped Paul, not all at the same time.

He said: "It certainly helps that we all train four times a week anyway at the club.

"The main problem I've had is boredom while running, but our martial arts background means we have the mental toughness to cope with that. Early morning motorists have also been an issue – I've had to dodge out of the way a few times on the rural roads."

Former Great Britain wheelchair basketball captain Colin Price and Paralympic hopeful Darren Greenfield, of Burton, are also taking part. They hope to raise £5,000 for Sheffield Steelers Junior Wheelchair Basketball Club.

Paul said the route should be accessible for wheelchairs apart from in one or two places, when the pair may need some help.

He said: "We might have to give them a push now and then on the hills, simply because of the construction of the wheelchairs," he said. But they have been doing some hill training to get ready for it. They are an inspiration – if they can do it, I have got nothing to complain about."

Donations can be made at the website www.just giving. com/sea2seachallenge.