A TRIO of determined fundraisers took to the streets on one of the hottest days of the year for an annual charity event.

On Saturday (September 9), three stalwarts of the Dorset Historic Churches Trust, covered dozens of miles and raised thousands of pounds in sponsorship to help fund essential repairs to churches across Dorset, as they took part in the charity’s 2023 Ride+Stride event.

After a send-off from Rector Martin Lee, Mike Keatinge and John Stokoe – with a combined age of well over 150 – walked 22 miles together, via 15 churches.

Not to be out-done, at 8am, Eric Jager ran a marathon from Frome St Quintin church – via many others – back to Sherborne Abbey, where at 6.45pm he met up with Mike and John for a well-earned rest on a bench outside the Abbey.

The trust’s parish organizer for Sherborne, Hilary Leavey, said: “Mike, John and Eric are amazing.

“How they achieved these long distances on such a scorching day I do not know.

“They have collectively raised thousands of pounds in sponsorship for this very worthwhile cause.”