DARTMOUTH pair Yorkie Lomas and Phil Langman are on the brink of an adventure of a lifetime.

The intrepid duo have arrived at the start of this year’s Yukon 1000 Canoe and Kayak Race from Rotary Park in Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada.

They will set off on Monday on the gruelling paddle raising money for the Children’s Hospice South West.

The unsupported wilderness paddling race will take them down the Yukon River from Whitehorse, Yukon, across the US/Canada border and on to the Dalton Highway Bridge, north of Fairbanks, Alaska, a distance of about 1,000 miles.

The race goes through some of the most deserted land on the continent. Teams have to anticipate that they may spend many hours at a time out of sight of any other boat or living person and the Yukon River has very few road access points, and very few people live along its banks.

Competitors must be aware that however good they are at paddling, things can and do go wrong: damaged shoulders, wrists, hands, exhaustion, hypothermia, or just getting cold and tired and they should be equipped so they are self-sufficient for at least two weeks, preferably three.

Paddlers should also be capable of immediate self-preservation and must anticipate the worst as there is no safety cover on this race – and one of the many advice notes for the race is bear precautions when they stop for the night.

Yorkie and Phil are hoping to raise at least £5,000 for their charity and donations can be made at http://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Yukon1000