Volunteers wanted to help run Dales' top charity event

While the final deadline for entrants for next month's Trailtrekker has now passed, organisers at aid charity Oxfam still require the

assistance of scores of local people to ensure the event in the Yorkshire Dales goes off without a hitch.

Around 200 volunteers are needed at checkpoints, to hand out drinks, meet and greet arriving entrants and a host of other vital activities for what is surely the region's most challenging sponsored walk, covering 100km of Britain's most stunning scenery.

The day/night walk starts and ends in Skipton, covering a 62-mile circuit of the Dales which takes participating teams up to 30 hours to complete – with only short breaks for food and drink along the way. The walk, held over the weekend of June 5 and 6, takes in some of the national park's most famous peaks, including Pen-y-ghent and Malham Cove.

Mark Dunstan, 40, is an HR worker from Skipton, and worked as a volunteer in last year's inaugural event. He enjoyed the experience so much he has already offered his services for this year's event.

"I had actually thought about signing up to take part in Trailtrekker last year," he said. "But unfortunately I broke my back some years before and it was just a little bit too far for me. When I saw Oxfam wanted volunteers for the event, I thought – well if I can't take part, I could at least help out."

Mr Dunstan spent the night before last year's event meeting

participants as they began to arrive in Skipton from across the country. His main role the following evening was to man a checkpoint alongside a team of volunteers at Buckden.

Mr Dunstan said: "We cheered them all in and they were obviously pleased to see us – we had a food tent there offering hot food and drinks and so on, and their support crews of friends and family were waiting for them as well. The atmosphere up there was electric."

For details of how to register as a volunteer, visit www.oxfam.org.uk/trailtrekker.