A group of race walkers from old York have got their sights set on travelling to New York to raise money for St Leonard's Hospice.

Six members of the York Club and Institute Union Race Walking Association, who have taken part in numerous marathons in the UK, want to gain entrance to the New York Marathon in November.

Dave Breslin, Bobby Grayson, Chris Flanagan, John Bolton, John McClure and Wally Johnson assumed they would gain a guaranteed place in the marathon as they were entering from overseas, but found out that this is not the case and they would have to take their chances like everyone else.

Dave, steward of The Groves WMC, said: "We hope that at least two of us manage to get in so we can go together. It's not so bad if you're by yourself doing a marathon, but if you're going by yourself for the first time it's a bit daunting.

"We're planning to write to the organisers to ask if we can enter as a group and we will explain that we're hoping to raise money for this good cause. "We will pay our own way to get there, the only problem is the actual entry."

If you would like to sponsor the team, call Dave at The Groves WMC on 01904 653799.