A LEOMINSTER Kung Fu instructor is asking residents to 'dig deep' and sponsor his sporting challenge to help rebuild an ancient Chinese temple.

Glenn Parry, owner and chief instructor at GP Martial Fitness, will complete a gruelling challenge with friends from his club to raise money for a project to rebuild The Ancestral Temple on Tian Men Shan, Zhangjiagie, China.

The Ancestral Temple is the ancient site that is dedicated to the Guardian of the Tian Men Mountain and translates as Heavens Gate Mountain.

During the Cultural Revolution in China the temple was destroyed and only half of the outer walls remain with the pagoda in front which is also in need of repair.

The ruined temple is tended to daily by locals who visit to prevent it from further damage and to ask for blessings.

"We are taking part in a sponsored sporting event to raise money to assist with the rebuild of this temple," said Mr Parry.

"The local stone masons have volunteered to do the work for free, however the materials are needed to complete the task and this is where we come in."

The cost of materials will total £10,000 and Mr Parry said the group aims to raise as much as possible towards that.

"So the seven of us will take part in a sporting challenge I have called The 5 Thunder Tian Men Challenge," he said.

"Being a martial artist and fitness fanatic I have created a tough challenge for the lads that will hopefully inspire people to sponsor us.

"I plan for us to swim one-mile of the Halo pool, cycle 10 miles on the spin bikes, run three miles on the treadmills, spar 10 rounds of kickboxing and finish with one-hour of fitness tests back in the Halo gym."

Mr Parry first travelled to China in 2005 where he was ‘overwhelmed’ by the beauty of the country and its martial arts and in 2011 he was invited by Master Steven Burton – founder of The 5 Thunder Chinese Martial Arts Association – to train with Grandmaster Li Zhiyi in Zhanjiagie on Tian Men Mountain.

Anyone who would like to sponsor the challenge can do so directly with those taking part or visit https://www.betterplace.org/en/fundraising-events/5-thunder-tian-men-challenge