PANCREATIC cancer charity The Operation Henry Trust is looking ahead to the Challaborough Challenge, its flagship fundraising event now in its 15th year.

Each year Operation Henry invites people in the South Hams to take on the trek to raise much needed awareness and funds to help support patients and their families across Devon.

Starting and finishing at The Dolphin Inn, Kingston, this year’s challenge offers routes of eight or fifteen kilometres through the South Hams’ glorious countryside and along the coast.

After registering at 8.30am, particpants will benefit from lead walkers on both routes, with refreshment stops along the way and a free buffet at the end courtesy of The Dolphin, along with free ice cream from Salcombe Dairy. A raffle will be held with prizes from local businesses including Portcullis Legals, the Thurlestone Hotel and Coast and Country cottages.

The charity’s founder, now chairman of trustees David Snelling said: ’This is a very special year for the Operation Henry team, who have been providing services to pancreatic cancer patients and their families for 15 years.

’My father passed away from the disease in 1975, and little has changed in the last 40 years. Please join us for our special 15th anniversary trek, so we can raise crucial awareness and funds.’

The charity says that pancreatic cancer rates have dramatically increased in Devon. It says there were nearly 1,000 cases in the South West last year, and according to the NHS more people are being diagnosed in the region than 10 years ago.

It adds pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest forms of the disease, but awareness of it and support for patients is lower than many other cancers.

To register for the Challaborough Challenge visit www.operationhenry.org/cc .