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Staff at Central England Co-operative are taking on the to raise money to provide equipment for disabled and terminally ill children.

Five colleagues based at the Lichfield headquarters are taking part to raise money for Staffordshire-based º£½ÇÊÓƵ children's disability charity Newlife Foundation.

The charity is one of this event's "gold bond" partners. Since May 2012, Central England Co-operative colleagues and customers have raised more than £500,000, all of which is being used to fund vital equipment for children in the company's trading area.

To date, 251 items of equipment – from powered and manual wheelchairs, to standing and walking frames, portable hoists and stair climbers, specialist beds and car seats, monitors and communication aids – have been provided through this successful partnership.

One of the children to benefit is six-year-old Stacie Poole, from Kings Heath, who made the most of the summer thanks to a new lightweight manual wheelchair.

Central England Co-operative team members Kevin Bruerton, Louise McFadzean, Matthew Ward, Catherine Allen and Stephen Pensom are all looking forward to the challenge and hoping to raise a combined total of £1,000 to help more children like Stacie.

Internal audit manager Kevin Bruerton said: "My daughter Phoebe was born prematurely but we were one of the lucky families – there have been no long-term effects.

"Taking part in in aid of Newlife means I can do my bit to help those families who weren’t so fortunate."