A tough team of teachers will trudge through deep mud and tackle brutal obstacles as they take on one of Scotland’s most challenging events.

The 10 hard-as-nails Dumbarton Academy teachers are doing gruelling Tough Mudder in a bid to raise thousands of pounds.

They will make their way through 20 daring obstacles and wade through mud over a distance of 10 miles to coin in £5000 for charity.

Alzheimer’s Research UK, National Deaf Children’s Society, Together in Sport Rwanda and Children 1st are all set to benefit.

And it is a personal challenge for three of the teachers.

Business studies teacher Lauren Murray is hoping to raise as much as she can for the Alzheimer’s charity.

Her mum Irene Mowatt, who was also a teacher at Vale of Leven Academy for more than 20 years, was diagnosed with the disease three years ago.

Lauren, from Jamestown, said: “My mum has recently had to move into residential care.

“She retired when she was 57 and by the age of 62 and she was already showing signs of memory loss.

“Her decline has been rapid and I really wanted to do something for Azheimer’s Research UK.

“We did Pretty Muddy 5k event in Bellahouston Park last year, raising £805, and decided to take on the big one this year.

“We’re nervous but think it will be a lot of fun too.”

Curricular leader of health and wellbeing Liam Connolly’s two-year-old daughter Orla was the inspiration behind the choice of National Deaf Children’s Society Scotland.

He said: “My daughter was born with profound sensory-neural hearing loss and was fitted with hearing aids from seven weeks old.

“At 18 months old she became a bilateral cochlear implant user.

“As the only deaf person in our close and extended families we were lost to begin with.

“How do we communicate with her, can she hear our voices, does she feel lonely and cut off from the rest of us and what will her future hold?

“We were introduced to NDCS Scotland when Orla was first fitted with hearing aids and ever since their help and support has been invaluable.”

The team will head to Drumlanrig Castle in Dumfries and Galloway next month to take part in the tough event.

Headteacher Claire McInally is also doing the challenge alongside Danielle Hawkins, Andrew Berrie, Sheryl Dunn, Michael Penny, Cara Brown, Ronan Boyle and Michael Sherry.

PE teacher Michael Sherry has been running circuit training classes for the adventurous team.

He has been volunteering for charity Together in Sport Rwanda.

He said: “This will be the second year I have volunteered and the second time I will be visiting Faith and Hope Primary School in the community of Gako in Rwanda.

“Last year’s trip was an incredible experience and eye-opener to the challenges these children face on a daily basis.

“I hope to raise even more money than last year to continue to make a difference for this fantastic cause.”

Andrew Berrie and Claire McInally chose Children 1st, which works with young survivors of abuse, neglect and trauma.

Staff and pupils have taken part in a number of fundraisers recently, including an overnight sportathon where 170 pupils and staff were put to the test with nine hours of sports, which raised £4800.

Anyone who wants to sponsor the team can visit https://mydonate.bt.com/teams/datoughmudder.