MORE than 20 Greater Manchester teams set off from Bolton's New Pack Horse Hotel yesterday in a bid to reach Dublin on a shoestring and raise cash for charity.

The annual Dublin Dash, in aid of Marie Curie Cancer, challenges volunteers to travel to the Emerald Isle on just £15 - and raise thousands of pounds in the process.

Teams had to arrange sponsorship to get to Dublin by any means of transport, via any route, and return to England within three days.

Lesley Jackson, from Marie Curie, said the 60 teams from the North-west simply have to "blag" their way over to Ireland.

She said: "They have to use their own ingenuity and initiative, and there are prizes for using most different forms of transport, taking the longest route, raising most money and best fancy dress."

A team from Bury are sure contenders in the last category. The staff from a Pilsworth restaurant are dressed as bride and groom, including two bridesmaids.

But they are also competing in the transport category, having planned to use a hot air balloon, army tank, rescue boat and a helicopter.

Bride Maria Tansey said they will hold a raffle on the ferry from Holyhead to Dun Laoghaire in order to raise extra cash for the charity.

A security department team from Alexandra Hospital in Cheadle - who see many cancer patients on the wards - have already raised £1,200 in four weeks. Paul Butler said they worked hard to arrange the sponsored transport from Cheadle to Dublin, by anything from mountain bike and ambulance to Sea-Cat. Team mate Derek Newton said: "This will be our first time in Dublin and we are just going to have a good 'craic'. The All Ireland finals are on, so the city will be buzzing."

Teams had 24 hours to reach Dublin by 11am today for a welcome by the Lord Mayor of Dublin at a civic reception.

The day can then be spent by teams as they wish, with an Irish "hooley" party thrown for the fundraisers by Marie Curie tonight.

The "Dash" was launched in Bolton by Key103 radio comedian Smug Roberts.

Jenny Powell, of Wheel of Fortune fame, should have been starting the competitors on their way but had to cancel at the last minute when she developed tonsilitis.

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