A WOMAN with spina bifida and her gym buddies will be taking part in a gruelling mud obstacle race to raise money for spinal research.

Rebecca Burns and friends Hanna Macfarlane, Kate Garner, Zoe Rawcliffe, Lucy Beresford, Amanda Oldroyd and Jade Ellen, along with their trainer Joe Riding will be taking part in Tough Mudder in Skipton on August 1.

The group, aged between 20 and 50, met while taking part in bootcamp style classes at JR Fitness in Barnoldswick and decided to raise money for the good cause by taking part in the hardcore 10 to 12 mile mud obstacle race which will test each competitor's strength, agility and sheer determination.

Rebecca said: "I joined the gym last year to help improve the strength in my spine as I suffer from spina bifida, unless major research is undertaken to find a cure then my future is a wheelchair and with three young children I would obviously like to prevent that.

"We have put together a team of ladies and our aim is to basically try and support me to get round the course and raise as much as we can towards the research needed."

The group has been training hard in the run up to the event at the Ravenscroft Way gym. Typical training has involved flipping tractor tyres, lifting weights, cardio work, running and body weight exercises.

Tough Mudder is a challenge not a race, and forces competitors to help their comrades wade through mud, jump into freezing cold ice baths, run through electrified obstacles and jump over fire.

Kate Garner said: "We want to complete and finish the event as a team. It's going to be a real team effort. We all have different abilities and will be helping one another.

"I feel challenged, but excited. We have all been training two or three times a week and putting the work in."

The team hope to raise around £3,000 for the Spinal Research charity, which is the UK’s leading charity funding medical research around the world to develop reliable treatments for paralysis caused by a broken back or neck.

To donate to the cause contact JR Fitness.