A group of unpaid carers will push themselves to the limits in a tough road march across Cumbria to raise funds for Carer Support South Lakes (CSSL).

The men- all in their sixties and seventies- are taking on a Keswick to Kendal (K2K) challenge to highlight the struggle faced by thousands of unpaid carers across the county who have looked after loved ones on their own during the pandemic.

The K2K Walk is the idea of 69-year-old Stuart Graves, who cares for his partner.

He will do the full 30-mile trek on June 5 while six other carers- Chris Amos, Kevin Archer, Ian Croskell, Leon Gold Schneider, Peter Murdoch and Don Sillars- join him in relay covering around four-miles each.

And the men will come together as a group as they finish the walk at the Carer Support South Lakes Hub in Wainwright’s Yard, Kendal.

“It’s fantastic of the men to join me,” said Mr Graves, who lives near Beetham.

“They’ve obviously got their own caring issues to deal with so for them to step up to the plate is tremendous. We’ve all got different levels of fitness, but we will all just do our best.”

All the men are members of the Men’s Support Group at CSSL and before the pandemic they got together every month.

“It has been a real battle for so many unpaid carers, struggling to look after their cared for, on their own, for months on end,” added Mr Graves.

“The men joining me in the K2K will be walking to acknowledge that struggle and to help make others more aware.”

They hope to raise thousands of pounds for the Kendal-based charity, which estimates there are more than 12,000 unpaid carers, of all ages, in the South Lakes alone.

The charity provides a wide range of services including one-to-one support to help a carer’s health and wellbeing. They also provide a sitting service, where volunteers step in to allow carers to take a break.

“This is a great opportunity to raise funds for Carer Support South Lakes and enable them to help more unpaid carers,” said Mr Graves. “Any donations will be very much appreciated and help a very worthy cause.”

If you would like to donate visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/carer-support-south-lakes