PEOPLE across Somerset are being urged to run, cycle, swim or even dance a mile a day throughout 2022.

The initiative is a fundraising venture being run by St Margaret's Hospice.

Participants going the extra mile in aid of the hospice can log their progress so they appear on the charity's leaderboard.

The idea came about so people can match St Margaret's, whose staff and volunteers go the extra mile every day to ensure patients across the county and their families receive care and support.

The physiotherapy team is no different, helping patients to manage their breathlessness and improve their quality of life.

It takes £30 to pay for a breathlessness session to help St Margaret’s Hospice patients to control their symptoms and improve their independence.

The hospice is aiming to raise enough money to pay for 100 breathlessness sessions for patients - that's a total of £3,000.

So if you want to take part in the challenge for 2022, you can register for free HERE.

Ellie Weston, marketing and events officer at St Margaret’s Hospice, said: “We really hope our participants will see the benefits from completing the challenge whether that is improvement to their physical or mental health, or just enjoying the sense of achievement from raising sponsorship for their local hospice.

“You can complete the challenge however you want, maybe by doing a longer dog walk in the evening, walking rather than getting in the car or by joining a local running club. It really is up to you.

“We have created a digital leaderboard where participants can upload their miles from Strava, track their progress against others and receive sponsorship from friends and family.

"It’s really easy and even better, it’s free to sign up.”

St Margaret’s has been at the heart of Somerset’s community for more than 40 years, delivering high quality, responsive and compassionate care to patients and their families facing a life-limiting illness.

The charity cares for people with any life-limiting illness, not just cancer, and last year supported more than 5,000 people across the county.

More than 1,200 volunteers give up their time freely to help care for people at the end of their lives.