A CHARITY fundraiser preparing to hike, cycle and kayak her way around the Lake District has been left ‘gutted’ by the theft of a collection box from her shop.

Jan Edwards and her friend, Karen Halifax, are in training for the Chasing the Sun challenge, raising money for the NSPCC, on May 30. But her fundraising efforts suffered a setback when a thief sneaked into the Wharfedale Deli in Burley-in-Wharfedale, which she runs with husband, Dave, and took the box.

“I am absolutely gutted,” she said. “I had it tucked away by the till and tied on, so someone must have deliberately come in and cut the ties and swiped it whilst I was in the back. It was a green NSPCC box clearly labelled. It’s been reported to the police.”

The thief struck at the shop, on the corner of Station Road and Main Street, between 2.30pm and 3pm last Thursday . She is asking people to help sponsor her fundraising efforts - and urging anyone with information on the theft to contact police.

Chasing the Sun involves a bike, hike and canoe in the Lake District. The challenge starts with 25 miles of biking in the Grizedale Forest, before a three-mile kayak on Lake Coniston. The final challenge is a trek up and back down the iconic peak of Old Man of Coniston, at 803 metres.The aim is to complete all three challenges before sunset.

To donate to Mrs Edwards’ challenge, visit virginmoneygiving.com/JanineEdwards.

Anyone with information on the theft is asked to contact police on the non-emergency number 101, and give the crime reference number 13150149494.