Brave runners will put their best foot forward this Saturday as they follow a wet and muddy trail in a fundraiser for a Weymouth youth centre.

The team of 26 are undertaking the Brutal Run at Pyestock in Hampshire, an extreme trail run, to raise funds for Steps Club for Young People.

When Dorset County Council removed funding for youth clubs two years ago, the club in Chickerell Road was saved from closure by being taken over by a charity.

Principal youth worker Tom Lane said: “It’s been an enormous team effort to keep Steps going and we’re very proud to have continued giving young people an array of developmental opportunities and critical support and making an important difference to their lives and to our community.”

He added: “The charity needs to raise significant income each year – through hiring out our fabulous building during the daytime, through obtaining grants and through fundraising events. Last year, twenty two of us ran the Weymouth Half Marathon for Steps and this year’s challenge is going to be tough and very muddy.”

Steps Club for Young People, formerly Weymouth Boys Club, has existed since 1964. The club re-opened in 2013 with a new state-of-the art building following a £3 million grant from the government’s Myplace programme.

Mr Lane said: “In the last two years, as well as helping them to gain key skills and confidence, we have supported young people with issues including housing and homelessness, education, training and career choices, homework, exam stress, bullying, bereavement and all aspects of their health including fitness, diet, drug and alcohol use, mental health issues, self-harm and suicidal intention.”

Club Chairman and Brutal Run participant Andy Blackwood said: “I think we’re looking forward to it with a mixture of excitement and trepidation. The club has made great strides since being run by the charity, but it is a constant challenge to survive and we are extremely grateful for the fabulous support we’ve received from our community.”

The club has a Justgiving page for the event, or pop into the club to make a donation.