Okehampton mayor, Bob Tolley, has set himself a one-of-a-kind challenge by inviting residents to dare him to complete any activity to raise money for charity.

The ’Challenge the Mayor’ event will run from February to May, when the new mayor will be elected, to raise money for Dream-A-Way, a Devon-based charity which offers holidays to people with disabilities and their families.

Cllr Tolley said: ’Going from nought in lockdown to full speed with everything and anything to get involved in supporting as many local events, charities and organisations as possible, has left little time to arrange my own fundraising events.

’I am up for attempting selected challenges [Okehampton residents] may suggest. I’m hoping lots of people come up with lots of challenges and we can make some nice money for the charity.’

The town council will review all proposed challenges and select the best suggestions. Cllr Tolley hopes to complete two to three challenges a month until May.

So far, the mayor has been challenged to help the Dartmoor Search and Rescue team in practice emergencies as a’dogs body’ meaning he will hide on the moor pretending to be a lost or injured person in need of rescue.

Cllr Tolley will also take on the role of rose pruner and spend a morning in Simmons Park helping the park keeper tidy up the many rose bushes in the park.

’I’m also already considering a jail break-type challenge,’ said Cllr Tolley.

’I’ll see how far I can get by rail in 24 hours on the first train of the day out of Okehampton, although the mayor trying to get as far away from Okehampton as he can doesn’t seem to send quite the right message.

’What else would be nice is perhaps the supermarkets might come forward and say "can you be our trolley boy for the morning?" That sort of thing.’

Cllr Tolley added that he hoped someone might challenge him to have a large gin and tonic in all the Okehampton hostelries on a Saturday lunch time as ’[he had] been practising.’

The mayor will also be holding a coffee morning on Saturday (February 12) and a general knowledge quiz in April on behalf of Dream-A-Way.

At the moment, Cllr Tolley has raised £400 but hopes that his fundraising events will raise over £1,000 for the charity, which was set up by one of his old colleagues, Jeff Merrett.

’I’m a retired policeman,’ said Cllr Tolley. ’I knew Jeff on the job, and he started this up with a couple of others and it got bigger and bigger.

’And I wanted to do something local. They do deal with clients from this area as well. It’s not just east Devon.’

Challenge suggestions can be submitted at the town hall office or to Cllr Tolley himself.

The town council is also working towards setting up a JustGiving page for the Mayor’s Charity to allow people to donate more easily.

Dream-A-Way is an Exeter-based volunteer-run charity that provides days out and holidays to Devon’s children and adults with disabilities or life-affecting health conditions and offers their carers with much needed breaks.

Since it was established in 1993, the charity has helped over 3,000 people and raised thousands of pounds to offer disabled people and families outings, caravan holidays or grants towards their dream holiday.