AN adventurous bride is heading out on a 21 hour endurance trek on the eve of her wedding.

Melissa Robins from Eccleston will head for the hills this weekend, complete with veil, to take part in the Oxfam Trailtrekker 100 kilometre challenge in the Yorkshire Dales.

At 6am on Saturday the University of Chester law student will set out on the charity challenge as part of a team of four that expects to reach the finishing post at Skipton at 3am the following morning.

Thirty-one-year-old Melissa, who originally comes from Toronto, Canada, will then head directly to Eaves Hall at Clitheroe where at 2.30pm that afternoon she will wed 32-yearold Ian Benyon a director of Electro Vision Ltd, an electronics manufacturer based in Sutton.

“Many people can’t believe what I’m doing,” she told the Star this week.

“I signed up to Trailtrekker before I booked my wedding, but when we found the perfect venue, they only had one date available.

“I decided to go ahead anyway.

We’ll certainly never forget it.

We’ll also be raising lots of money for Oxfam’s important work around the world.”

Melissa and her team of wedding guests have put in lots of training for the challenge focusing on foot care and blister prevention.

While Melissa is trekking, husband-to-be, Ian will be busy looking after their international wedding guests.

The couple, both lovers of the outdoors, got engaged while hiking in Hong Kong – and fittingly trekking will be part of their wedding weekend.

Louise Gebbett, Oxfam spokesperson said: “It’s incredible to have a bride take on the challenge so close to her wedding day.

“It’s certainly a first for us, and we wish Melissa and her team the best of luck.”

You can sponsor Melissa’s challenge at www.justgiving.com/ebg For further information about the challenge and to register your interest for 2015 visit: www.oxfam.org.uk/ trailtrekker.