Mature upholstery students from Brockenhurst College taking part in a night-time powerwalk marathon in May to support breast cancer causes have ‘outstripped’ their £1,800 target, with sponsors already pledging £4,665 – more than double.

The group, led by lecturer Susan Newman, will stride a 26.2-mile course around London on May 13th/14th as part of breast cancer charity Walk the Walk’s London Moonwalk.

As is customary on Walk the Walk endeavours, the group will complete the course wearing their bras over their clothes to show solidarity with people affected by breast cancer.

Team member Charlotte Merritt, who has undergone treatment for the condition, said: “I know I benefitted hugely from the great strides that have been made in cancer research with better detection, treatment and new smart drugs.

“I know other people haven't been so lucky, but with even more funding and research the outcome for people can only get better,” she added.

Another team member, Claire Vinycomb-Brown, who lost her 25-year-old sister to cancer, said: “This terrible disease is affecting many people, so if we can do something today to help the patients of tomorrow, then let’s do it.”

You can sponsor the students by pledging money on their JustGiving webpage.

The address is -ww.justgiving.com/fundraising/Moonwalk2017BrockCollege