A hospice is encouraging people to test their endurance by entering a cross-country challenge in aid of charity.

St Luke’s Hospice, in Kenton Road, Harrow, is welcoming participants of the London to Brighton Challenge – a 100km route between the two cities that covers the North and South Downs.

Those who sign up can either walk, jog or run the course – or choose to complete the 50k or 25km course – across two days on May 26-27.

The hospice, which requires £3.5 million worth of public donations each year to maintain its services, said it is a great way to support its work.

For more information, visit www.stlukes-hospice.org/london2brighton or phone 020 8382 8063.

St Luke’s recently received £700 from the South Harrow Traders’ Association (SHTA), which had been fundraising throughout the year.

It organised a number of events including a five-a-side football tournament, Christmas and Diwali functions and its annual cricket match.

Jayendra Parmar, SHTA secretary, said: “We are very proud to serve the charity in recognition of the marvellous work being done by the management and staff at the hospice to ensure that residents are cared for in the most comfortable manner possible.

“In most cases these residents are at the hospice to spend their last days due to their illness.

“We strongly feel that events such as the donations made in person should be made newsworthy in the community to show the true spirit that exists within the community, especially in the current times of so much negativity and sadness in the world.

“We hope that this may promote the superb work being undertaken at the Hospice and at the same time prompt many others to follow suit.”