TWO former Devizes School pupils are to take part in the Devizes to Westminster Canoe Race to raise money for charities close to their hearts.

Dan Sloan and Matthew Penfold, have been training hard for several months and hope to clock a good time in the iconic race held each Easter.

Mr Sloan, 26, of Matilda Way, Devizes, is raising money for Southampton General Hospital which helped his sister Olivia Fleming after she was diagnosed with leukaemia.

Mr Penfold, 25, is raising money for Dorothy House Hospice at Winsley, which has helped care for family members.

Olivia, 11, of White Horse Way, Devizes, was diagnosed with cancer when she was eight but is now back living a full life and in September was able to travel to Florida to swim with dolphins thanks to the Make A Wish Foundation.

Plumber and heating engineer Mr Sloan works for Moore of Devizes and the firm is the main sponsor of the two canoeists.

He said: "Over the years I have done a few things to raise money for the hospital and I have always wanted to do the canoe race so the two things went together well. We have been doing a lot of training and hope to do a good time."

Mr Penfold, works as a civilian investigator for Wiltshire police and is based at police headquarters in Devizes.

The pair are used to combining for sporting events as they started playing football together aged eight when they both joined Devizes Football Club.

This year's canoe race is expected to have more than 600 kayakers in 334 boats taking part in the 125 mile endurance challenge.

The four day stage race starts from about 6.30am on Good Friday, April 3 and the straight through race, which Mr Sloan and Mr Penfold will be part of, starts on Easter Saturday.