A LOCAL pair are set to complete a 62-mile ultra-marathon next weekend to raise money for a new MRI machine at Salisbury District Hospital.

Starting at 4am from Winchester Cathedral on Saturday, August 4, Pete Harris and Rob Drag will be running and walking up to 62 miles to Salisbury Cathedral, taking in Farley Mount, Figsbury Ring, Old Sarum, Stonehenge, Wilton House and Salisbury Hospital on the way.

The ultra-marathon is inspired by Emma Drag, Rob’s wife, who is taking part in the Stars Appeal’s Great Wall of China Trek next year.

She will be walking 6000km (or about 3728 miles) from Saturday, April 27 to Monday, May 6.

Pete said: “We actually ran from Winchester Cathedral to Salisbury Cathedral last year, and we were trying to think of ways of adding to it, and we came up with this.

“We thought with Emma doing the Great Wall of China trek, this would be a good way of enabling her to raise more money”.

The two feats of endurance are sharing a JustGiving page, and they will be combining their collective fundraising efforts.

When asked why she is doing the trek for the Stars Appeal, Emma said: “I was born at Salisbury District Hospital.

“I’ve worked there, been a patient there, visited relatives, and I am currently a volunteer there.”

Emma said a new machine “allows patients to visit their local hospital which will use the up-to-date techniques, allowing for advances diagnostic testing, for patients to be seen more quickly and receive results faster”.

Rob added: “It’s a great cause, and it’s going to be tough.

“The first 30 miles will be okay, I think, we’ve been doing 30-mile training runs to prepare for this, but after that it will be tough.

“It will be hard in this weather though, I’m not sure if we would prefer it to be wet.”

As well as the 62 miles between cathedrals, the pair will also be running an extra hour for every £50 raised over their £1,000 target.

They have currently raised more than £500.

Emma added: “April 2019 is a little way ahead, and if the MRI scanner appeal has achieved its target my fundraising will go to the newly built Breast Care unit.

“I know as a patient how amazing it is now that tests can be done in one place.”

To donate, go to justgiving.com/fundraising/emma-drag3