FRIENDS will “attempt the unthinkable” when they try to walk the full east coast of Rhodes in just 24 hours to raise money for charity.

During their first attempt at the challenge, pals Ben Moorhouse and Gaynor Thompson completed the feat in three days, before returning to the sunshine island and reducing that time to just two days.

The duo, both Bradford Bulls supporters, hope to raise £2,000 for the Steve Prescott Foundation, adding to the £3,000 they made on the two previous walks.

This time, they will walk from Prasonisi to Mandraki, pacing the full east coast of Rhodes in just one day, notching up a total of 70 miles in intense summer heat.

Mr Moorhouse, 32, from Shelf, and Miss Thompson, from Ovenden, have taken their inspiration from the former rugby league international Steve Prescott, who raised almost half a million pounds for charity despite being diagnosed with stomach cancer that took his life aged just 39.

The full-back, who was awarded an MBE, set up the Steve Prescott Foundation to help injured rugby league players and to support The Christie Cancer Hospital where he was treated.

Until the two friends took on the challenge in 2015, the full East coast walk had never been attempted before. The challenge was big news in Greece and got television coverage.

Mr Moorhouse said: “Steve Prescott always looked at ways to make an extreme challenge even more challenging and this is why we are going beyond anything seen before.

“In 2015 we did the full east coast walk in three days. In 2016 in two days. On both occasions we created history on Rhodes island. On August 7 we shall attempt the unthinkable and will walk from Prasonisi to Mandraki - the full east coast of Rhodes in just one day.”

To find out more about their challenge and to give support, you can visit this website.

This year, they are officially being sponsored by Bradford Bulls Supporters Group. Mr Moorhouse said: “We can go to Rhodes with good fitness and completely ready but the biggest strength we can have is mental fitness. Steve always believed in ‘what the mind believes the body achieves’ and what we have done proves this. Last year on the first day of the 50 miles we were physically exhausted but our minds kept us going.”

The friends are in training at their local gym and are practising long distance walks, the last one was from Halifax to Bolton Abbey and back.

“The I’m from Yorkshire Facebook page is also supporting us this year which is fantastic. If we succeed in Rhodes we shall hold the Yorkshire flag above our heads at the finish . We were born in Yorkshire , train and Yorkshire and we will do this for Yorkshire too!” added Mr Moorhouse.

And he said: “We will leave Prasonisi at midnight walking in total darkness and very dangerous areas for the first 20 miles.

"We will then have a full day if walking on the Monday on our epic journey to Mandraki. It could potentially be 20 hours hours of constant walking due to the dangers , environment and conditions we shall face. We will be in Rhodes for less than 24 hours after landing until we head down to Prasonisi with no climate training and little sleep so it's going to be a huge test.

"We are very grateful for the support we get in Rhodes from our group of supporters who have always been there for us and the Greek officials . We can only hope a few more people will support us this year with extra motivation , food and water!"