A SIDMOUTH woman is getting her hiking boots on for charity in September and is calling for others to join her. Alison O Hara, a keen supporter of the NSPCC, is recruiting people, clubs and companies to take part and raise sponsorship for the South West 2

A SIDMOUTH woman is getting her hiking boots on for charity in September and is calling for others to join her.

Alison O'Hara, a keen supporter of the NSPCC, is recruiting people, clubs and companies to take part and raise sponsorship for the South West 2009 HACK challenge.

The 25 mile route starts and finishes in the grounds of Bicton College in East Budleigh and takes participants around the River Otter and Woodbury Common during the circular route.

Alison said: "I took part in a similar NSPCC challenge in Yorkshire a couple of years ago it was a real tough course and I was proud to say I had completed the 25 miles."

Money raised will go towards the Child's Voice Appeal to help expand the Exeter-based ChildLine service, the free helpline which receives calls from children from across the South West.

Dragon's Den judge Deborah Meaden, who lives in Somerset, recently launched the appeal to raise �1.6 million to expand the number of volunteer counsellors at the base to as many as 150. It costs �1,600 to train a volunteer counsellor.

Alison added: "It's fantastic that the money raised from the South West event will go towards helping children locally and I hope individuals and teams will raise lots of money.

"It's an ideal opportunity for friends, individuals and work colleagues to get together and have a great time but also raise money to help local children.

"East Devon is a beautiful part of the country and there is lots of accommodation so people could combine the event with a weekend break."

The HACK will take place on Sunday, September 27 and people taking part are advised to train before hand.

Anyone interested in taking part can visit www.canuhackit.co.uk for a registration form, or call the NSPCC south west appeals team on (01823) 346346, email southwestappeals@nspcc.org.uk. The registration fee is �15 (non-refundable) and includes a Can U Hack it? t-shirt.