Teenage footballers are taking on a challenge to go the distance for the NHS.

Alfie Whitnell, 16, and Jack Hardy, 17, from Gillingham have been running every day to get to their target of 200km (124 miles) in two weeks.

The best friends were inspired to take on the challenge after training at their clubs was suspended.

They also wanted to do something to honor their mothers, who are both frontline workers.

Alfie is at Maidstone United and his mother works as a care worker, while Jack plays for Ebbsfleet United's youth side and his mother works for the NHS.

The pair, who both went to The Howard School, have been running around Rainham and Gillingham and have already passed their initial target of £1,000.

Alfie, who works as a trainee at Kent Drainage, said: "We are both obviously into our fitness and football and we have been friends since we were seven.

"We started doing 10km a day just for fun and then we thought we could set ourselves a goal for the NHS.

"We are keeping two metres apart and running on opposite sides of the road, both tracking the time and distance as we are doing it.

As of yesterday, the boys had run 80 km – just under 50 miles – in five days.

So far, they have raised £1,385 for NHS Charities Together.

Alfie added: "It's already taken a toll on our bodies; I've had to throw away three pairs of socks from blisters and Jack's pulled his back but he kept going on."

To donate to the boys' GoFundMe page, click here.

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