A GUIDE Dogs supporter has set off on a daring 220-kilometre Arctic challenge.

Pat Brown, 60, of Otley, hopes her sponsored dog-sledding expedition in Lapland will help her hit a £5,000 fundraising target.

She has been training hard for the adventure which will see her driving a team of huskies, and staying in traditional herdsmen’s huts, 100 miles north of the Arctic Circle.

All of the money raised will enable Guide Dogs to have a new puppy trained that will share a unique link with Otley – and be named after the town.

Pat, who started training and walking puppies for the charity in 2007, flew out to Sweden on February 21.

She said: “My gym, Club Energy in Otley where I have been training regularly, has donated lots of energy bars for me to take along as apparently I am going to need something like 2,000 extra calories each day to keep me going! And one kind lady contacted a company named Petra for me, who has donated two sets of silk underwear that I am now taking along on the trek to help with the cold.

“The fundraising is going very well, with the current total at £4,398, and I have received an email from Otley Lions to say that they are going to donate £250 to A Guide Dog Named Otley, too.

“So many people have supported me and I would like to to thank them all.

“We often only hear about the bad things that happen in life, but I can now confirm that there are a lot of good people who will all have contributed to helping a blind or partially sighted person regain their independence.”

Pat’s physical preparations began in earnest last February. Her training has included following a specially devised weight-lifting programme, going on an outward bound course at Ingleborough, completing 91 miles of the Dales Way with her husband, Chris, and taking her dogs for twice-daily walks.

To support Pat, visit uk.virginmoneygiving.com/PatBrown1.