Two friends will be saddling up for a bumpy ride when they embark on a 150-mile round-trip on their horses, in the hope of raising £20,000 for charity.

Dunmow Broadcast: Stephanie Burrows and Sally Beanland, pictured with Susannah Money-Schenk, of SJMS Osteopathy, who is sponsoring them.Stephanie Burrows and Sally Beanland, pictured with Susannah Money-Schenk, of SJMS Osteopathy, who is sponsoring them. (Image: Archant)

Stephanie Burrows, 35, who lives in Cornish Hall End, will be riding from Great Bardfield to Thetford Forest and back again with pal Sally Beanland, 44, in April.

The pair were inspired to do the fundraiser for Target Ovarian Cancer, after witnessing firsthand their friend, Chrissie Agate, 53, from Takeley, battle the disease.

As horses are Chrissie’s passion, and as they all became friends at Sally’s yard, it was the perfect way to try and raise the money.

Stephanie, who owns a dog walking business, said: “Chrissie was very quiet about the cancer and I did not know until she had to have more chemotherapy. It was horrible when I found out but she is such a strong lady, who is always positive and always smiling.

“I have always wanted to do an event and thought this would be perfect as horses are Chrissie’s passion. I did not know if she would want me to say I was doing it for her but when I asked she said she would be honoured.

“To raise £20,000 would be incredible and it would mean so much, especially to Chrissie.”

They are expecting to the trek to last a week and they aim to ride between four and five hours day – stopping off at horse hotels and B&B’s on the way.

Once they arrive at the forest they will be staying at Little Lodge for the night, where the trio enjoyed a holiday last May.

“I am feeling quite nervous but we are very excited. It is just an awful lot to plan but Chrissie has really enjoyed doing that with us,” Stephanie, whose dad died of cancer, added.

“We are going to have to start properly training six times a week so we can get the horses fit enough. It is like training for a marathon!”

Spirits will be kept high as the women will be joined by other friends on parts of the journey and they hope Chrissie, who is in stage 4 of the disease, will be able to join in for the last leg, before arriving home for the welcome back party.

“Chrissie has been quite poorly recently but we are just praying she is well enough and still with us by April to be involved.”

To donate to their cause visit justgiving.com/chrissie2015.

To find out more information visit their Facebook page facebook.com/chrissie2015.