MOST of their Kirkby Lonsdale friends are convinced that they won't make it but that hasn't deterred three pals from embarking on a 127-mile charity trek, reports Michaela Robinson-Tate.

Graham Curtin, 32, and Richard Day and Andrew Wilkinson, both 52, left Stanley Dock at Liverpool on Monday morning and are expecting to finish tomorrow (Saturday) after walking the length of the Liverpool to Leeds canal.

The three friends have nearly reached their fund-raising target of £5,000, which will be split between the Rosemere Cancer Foundation and Kirkby Lonsdale's St Mary's Church.

The church, which has had financial problems this year, approached the chamber of trade in the town, of which Mr Day is chairman, for help, so St Mary's became the focus for the walk.

Mr Curtin's father, Mike Curtin, has been receiving treatment at the Rosemere Cancer Centre in Preston, and so the desire to give something back was also part of their motivation.

The three businessmen decided to do the walk during what Mr Curtin said was a " drunken night" while they were on holiday in Spain earlier this year.

The canal walk seemed appropriate, and about the right length, and the team intends to walk 20 to 25 miles a day, staying in B&Bs along the route.

Friends in Kirkby do not expect Mr Day, of Country Cousins, Mr Wilkinson, of Avanti bar and Mr Curtin, none of whom are experienced walkers, to finish.

"It's absolutely true that everybody thinks we have got no chance - they think we are stupid," said Mr Curtin.

"We are all massively unfit but we have been doing a bit of practice."

Anyone who would like to contribute to the trio's fund-raising can do so via Avanti bar.

They said that local donations so far have been " extremely generous".