FOUR men from Hatherleigh are training to kayak around 300 miles of coastline in an effort to raise money for four charities.

Chris Brown-Martin, Matt Retter, Chris Lake and Steve Carter are busy training for the South West Kayak Charity Challenge.

The challenge, taking place in August, will see the lads kayak from Bude to Exeter around the Devon and Cornish coastline.

They plan to arrive in Exeter Quay on Sunday August 25, giving themselves a fortnight to reach their destination fighting through tides, rip-currents and navigating past other boats.

Organiser Chris Brown-Martin was diagnosed with Alpha 1-Antitrypsin Deficiency in 2008. He found out he had the condition following the fire at the George, where smoke inhalation led to the diagnosis.

The genetic condition is associated with a number of respiratory and liver diseases, and Chris has chosen the four charities — Alpha One Awareness UK, Devon Air Ambulance Trust, Cornwall Air Ambulance Trust, and Surf Life Saving GB — to help save the lives of local people and raise awareness of his own condition.

You can follow their endeavours on their Facebook page and Twitter, or by visiting http://www.southwestkayakcharitychallenge.co.uk">www.southwestkayakcharitychallenge.co.uk