A TEAM of kind-hearted fundraisers are stepping into action - literally - to raise funds for Cancer Research UK.

Ten members of the Colchester Relay for Life group have pledged to collectively walk an eye-watering five million steps between them during October and hope to raise £3,000.

They wanted to set themselves a challenge as this year's relay event - a 24-hour relay where team members take it in turns to walk around a track - had to be cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Cancer survivor Shirley Maudling first hatched the idea to walk 13,000 steps each per day and she was quickly joined by nine other hardy walkers, including nine-year-old grandson Harry Stevenson.

"The relay couldn't go ahead this year so, as a team, we were looking for ways to raise funds," said Mrs Maudling, who, in addition to Harry, is also being joined by daughter and son-in-law Louise and Matt Stevenson, both 30, daughter Rachael Littlejohns, 36, Sarah Hay, 32, Rachel de Souza, 36, Isabel Coppin, 29, Meg Coppin, 26, and Mark Safier, 53.

"Prior to starting this challenge, I was doing around 6,000 steps a day so it's quite an increase for me.

"I've been getting the steps in by walking around my local area on a daily basis.

"So far, the weather hasn’t been kind to us and we’ve all got soaked, suffered blisters and even wasp and bee stings.

"One of the team got some of their steps in by climbing Snowdon.

"Some of them have walked to work and back and Harry, the youngest team member, has been running up and down his garden after school every day.

"He's so committed to doing his steps which is just amazing for someone of his age.

"It’s fair to say this has been challenging for each of us and we have to keep it up for the rest of the month.

"However, we're all determined to do it.

"In 11 days, we managed 1,019,814 steps between us and now we've decided to up the challenge to five million steps by the end of the October."

Mrs Maudling, who lives in Colchester, has a very special and personal reason for being involved with the Relay for Life event, having been diagnosed with bilateral breast cancer (diagnosed simultaneously in both breasts) in November 2016.

She had triple negative breast cancer, which is the rarest and most aggressive form.

The 55-year-old underwent six rounds of aggressive chemotherapy over four months, during which time she lost her hair and nails.

She then had a mastectomy, lumpectomy and breast reconstruction, followed by 25 gruelling rounds of radiotherapy.

"I got involved with Relay for Life at the end of my treatment and am now the survivors' and candle of hope chair for the Colchester event," said the mum of three, who has nine grandchildren.

"I also run the Colchester Cancer Choir for survivors of any form of cancer and am an area advocate for a triple negative support group."

The team are still hoping to raise more money and are nearly halfway towards their target of £3,000.

Anyone wanting to sponsor them can do so via the Relay for Life Colchester Facebook page.

Their team is the Rack Pack.