A DAD from Malvern will climb the final leg of the Three Peaks Challenge series to raise money in memory of his late mother.

Steven Thomas, aged 59, decided to take on the ascent with his sons, Graham and Stewart, who will hike all three peaks - after they took him to Ben Nevis as a birthday treat. He will provide transport support to his sons too.

Mr Thomas’ mother was cared for at St Richard’s Hospice in Worcester before her death in 2015 and he wants to support his son Stuart with the family challenge.

“Every single member of staff at the hospice supported mum so well,” he said.

“Many people describe nurses and carers as angels and it’s certainly true of the staff there.

“People think of a hospice as being a sombre place but in my experience, St Richard’s was positive and happy – a celebration of life where everyone is treated with so much dignity and respect.”

As part of the challenge Stuart and partner Natalie will climb Ben Nevis at 5pm on Saturday May 29, taking an estimated five hours to reach the summit and then get back to base.

With just a couple of hours’ sleep, the group will then travel to Scafell Pike in the Lake District National Park, Cumbria, taking around four hours to scale the summit and head back down, and will then then on to the final peak – Snowdon in north Wales, which will also take around five hours.

“I think adrenaline will keep us going and the cause I’m working towards will be in the back of my mind,” said Mr Thomas.

“It’s a good time of year to climb as the weather can be reasonably predicted and the long daylight hours allow us to see obstacles easier so we don’t acquire sprained ankles or worse.”

Jodi Brandwood, fundraiser at St Richard’s Hospice, said: “We are so grateful to this fantastic team for taking on such a tough challenge in support of St Richard’s.

“We wish the team all the very best – both with training and then tackling the three peaks. We hope they enjoy the challenge and make great memories.”

A Just Giving page has been set up at:

https://bit.ly/2PUh7mj