TWO friends are gearing up to trek 180 miles from Banbury to Brecon, in Wales.

Robert Lipstreu, 33, and Richard Neat, 18, who both work at Blockbusters, in Banbury, will leave next month and expect the journey to take two weeks.

To get fit for the event, which will raise money for Adoption UK, the pair have been swimming, jogging and doing endurance exercises to prepare them for carrying up to 35lb rucksacks.

Mr Lipstreu, of Banbury, said: “The most difficult part of this challenge will probably be the mental stamina.

“Our bodies can recover quite quickly whereas the determination to just keep going can seem like climbing Mount Everest, especially if the weather is bad.

“The only thing that I’ve ever done that is similar to this is the 12-mile march I did when I was in basic training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, about 14 years ago.

“We were in full gear marching in the middle of the night, in a full-on torrential thunderstorm with bolts of lightning streaking the night sky for what looked like miles.

“Your 35lb kit suddenly weighs 40lb or more because every inch of you is soaked to the bone.

“We did that march in two hours and 45 minutes; beating the Army Rangers by 15 minutes.”

Mr Lipstreu said he decided to sign up for the challenge after reading more about adoption when he applied for a job at Adoption UK, based in Banbury.

He said: “It struck a chord with me, especially since I take the role of parenting quite seriously and am very passionate about children not only having a home, but a home that promotes a healthy environment for them to grow in.”

He said his walking companion Mr Neat, of Kings Sutton, was the first person he thought of doing the walk with when he had the idea.

For more information, or to make a donation, see trekkinforkids.blogspot.com