FITNESS fanatics will have to endure three times the pleasure - or pain - as they gear up to take on a charity triathlon.

Members and staff at the Cleobury Mortimer Sports and Fitness Centre will be sweating it out on Saturday in a drive to boost funds for Macmillan Cancer Relief.Simon Eades, Ami Bowen and Tracey Mullard get set to take the charity triathlon challenge.

But worn-out athletes will not have the chance to cool off in a swimming pool after cycling and running for cash as the water-based sport has been replaced by a rowing challenge.

All three events - which must be completed consecutively - total a gruelling 8,000 metres per person.

Those signed up to take the challenge have been canvassing friends and family to drum up financial support as well as paying the charity to take part.

Centre manager Lee Hassan has already set an impressive time of 29 minutes and 42 seconds in practice but said he hoped Saturday's competitors would put his time to shame.

He said: "It's definitely a killer but we thought it was a good idea to give staff and members something to train for and to raise money for the charity.

"We have been training for the last six to eight weeks - it's going to be tough but a great challenge."