BARROW AFC coaches are set to begin a new month-long fundraising venture by completing an intense sporting challenge.

Bluebirds first team coach Craig Rutherford and his son Kayden will join Barrow legend and former star Neil Doherty and a team of current and former BAFC youth coaches in the epic running and cycle event.

Throughout the month of June, they will be running and cycling the equivalent distance of round trips to the Bluebirds' longest away day journeys in the 2019/20 season.

As these round trips were 1181km from Barrow AFC to Dover Athletic and 1113km from Barrow AFC to Torquay United, they will be running/cycling a combined total distance of 2294km.

The aim is to raise £2000, with funds raised being split between two great causes.

Fifty per cent of money raised will go towards the NHS, with the specific aim of ensuring that it goes towards Furness General Hospital.

And the other half of the money raised will be used to purchase BAFC match tickets for local children when football re-starts.

This is to reward them for their fantastic and positive attitudes during the lockdown situation.

"I’m just looking forward to the challenge and rewarding local children," said Craig.

"I know my two have been so positive throughout lockdown- a few wobbles included- so to help other children come watch football (hopefully football league) and doing our bit to show our appreciation to our local NHS workers is something we’re all looking forward to doing."

The team has set up a JustGiving page here https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/away-day-challenge to contribute towards their efforts which has raised £240 in donations to date.

Barrow AFC will update the progress of the team on its social media platforms and we will keep you updated here in The Mail Sport.

Last month, Craig teamed up with town football star and England Lionesses international Georgia Stanway to raise money for Motor Neurone Disease (MND).

Supported by Kayden, who completed nearly 40km of his own, Craig completed the '100K in May' walking challenge to walk 100km in less than two weeks.

Fund raised went to the Darby Rimmer MND foundation - set up by ex-Liverpool and Bradford footballer Stephen Darby and close friend and British Forces veteran Chris Rimmer.

A JustGiving page for this challenge has so far raised £4,595.

You can still donate here https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/paulgandollie100k