Simon Elmont, from Sark, and Steven Wright, from Alderney, hope to raise thousands of pounds for the Great Ormond Street Hospital Appeal.

They are racing to the North Pole next year and hope to raise �20,000 before they leave.

Mr Elmont said they have found being islanders has put them at an advantage with their attitude to training.

He said: "I think living on a small island gives you a different attitude to life and it helps.

"We don't have a gym, but the training is great because we have the natural environment and cliff paths."