Midwives will embark on a four-day charity mission next month to raise money to deliver improved and additional services at the maternity centre where they work.

The group, who are based at the Friarage Maternity Centre in Northallerton, will begin an 84-mile trek on September 13 along the full length of the Hadrian's Wall Path.

On day one, the group, who are part of the South Tees NHS Trust, will set off from Bowness on Solway in Cumbria and will end the challenge in Segedunum Roman Fort in Wallsend on day four, walking 20 miles per day. 

It's hoped that the challenge, which will mark ten years of the Friarage Maternity Centre, will help raise funds to improve services, such as postnatal education sessions, support groups and relaxation sessions.

The midwives doing a training walk ahead of the challengeThe midwives doing a training walk ahead of the challenge (Image: SOPHIA SHEPPARD)

The fundraiser also aims to raise awareness of the centre and letting people know it includes a freestanding midwife-led birth centre with a birth pool.

All of the funds they raise will go towards refurbishing 'The Old Theatre' to create a calm and relaxing space that will allow the centre to offer pregnancy and birth relaxation sessions, antenatal, intrapartum and postnatal education sessions, and postnatal support groups.

Sophia Sheppard, one of the midwives taking part, said: "It felt like a good way to mark ten years of the Friarage Maternity Centre. 

"It will hopefully bring more women into the Friarage and signpost that we are here. 

The team taking on the charity challenge next monthThe team taking on the charity challenge next month (Image: SOPHIA SHEPPARD)

"We cover a large area, and if we can let mothers know that we are here - it would be great.

"We strive to empower women and birthing people to have the best possible pregnancy, birth and postnatal experiences - it's about them having a positive experience."

Sophia and the midwifery team have been training hard for the challenge, and have embarked on other fundraisers individually in the past to raise funds for the NHS and the maternity centre.

The team look forward to hopefully updating the birthing rooms with enhanced equipment to create "calm holistic spaces and a home-from-home environment" such as next-to-me cribs, Bluetooth speakers, mood lighting and soft furnishings.

Sophia added: "We hope to get a bit of money in to redevelop the centre - improving services and introducing new services is important to us as a team. 

"We look forward to seeing what this fundraising challenge brings for the maternity centre."

Ahead of the challenge, the midwives have set up a Just Giving fundraising page, which has so far raised nearly £500; ten per cent of the £5,000 the group are targeting for the improvements.