TWO all-action fundraisers are going to extraordinary lengths to raise money for Action Research.Ray Walters, 50, of Waddling Duck, Foxhall, and Dick Partridge, 45, of Hill Farm, Akenham, have already raised £1,090 after holding a raffle and auction at Orwell Motorcycles, in Ipswich, with the evening being hailed a resounding success.

TWO all-action fundraisers are going to extraordinary lengths to raise money for Action Research.

Ray Walters, 50, of Waddling Duck, Foxhall, and Dick Partridge, 45, of Hill Farm, Akenham, have already raised £1,090 after holding a raffle and auction at Orwell Motorcycles, in Ipswich, with the evening being hailed a resounding success.

Mr Walters said: "It was completely packed. The car park has a capacity of 170 and that was full. Anyone who came past must have wondered what was going on. There must have been over 500 people inside."

The next stage of the fundraising drive sees the duo fly out to Kathmandu next month to undertake a six-day trek, taking in terrain across the famous Annapurna Mountain range in the Himalayas in Nepal.

They will be joined on their trip by 25 other intrepid adventurers. The trek is at altitude across rugged and harsh landscapes with narrow paths and steep descents.

Mr Walters, who owns Orwell Motorcycles, in Ranelagh Road, said: "We have been around the world to various countries doing different things together but we have never done a trek before."

All money raised will go to Action Research, one of the country's leading medical charities.

The charity has contributed to pioneering research into various subjects including the testing of the rubella vaccine, the specialist treatment of burns injuries in children and a new treatment for epilepsy.

However, it was their research into still-born babies that first brought the charity to the attention of Mr Walters.

In 1999 his daughter, Laura Hardiman, 25, of Bixley Farm, Ipswich, lost her son at birth.

This inspired Mr Walters to raise money for the charity to help it continue its research into the subject. So when Mr Partridge suggested the idea of going on a trek to raise money it was a chance they both grasped.

Mr Walters said: "We were looking to do something for the charity. The trek is a challenge and not like any other challenges I have had. I had the challenge of moving my business and this is a different challenge."

The pair aim to raise £2,500 each. Anyone wishing to sponsor them can call 01473 257401 or 07768 435146.

Webline: https://secure.actionresearch.co.uk/sponsor.