Fridge hiker aims to raise thousands for Help for Heroes

There are lots of challenges undertaken by people hoping to raise money for soldiers' charities, but Matthew Bamber is undertaking one with a bit of a difference. The 41-year-old is raising money for Help for Heroes by undertaking a hiking challenge with a fridge strapped to his back.

Spurred on by the Invictus Games 2016, Mr Bamber decided to do something a bit different and so is trekking through the Lake District with the 30kg fridge on his back. He said that he wanted to "do his bit" for servicemen and women who work on the frontline.

Mr Bamber realised that Royal Marines in the Falklands had to hike with more than 36kg on their backs in dangerous conditions, so he wanted to do something that mimicked this. He realised that a fridge could offer a similar weight and mean he was only carrying one item.

Upon deciding on the type of fridge he would carry, he then needed a frame that would allow him to slip it on and off like backpack. Mr Bamber ordered a frame from the US and then had to join it onto the fridge itself, which meant drilling holes, cutting sections off and even using an angle grinder.

Once he had finished the fridge, he took it out for a test walk around Honister Slate Mine, which apparently gave a few other hikers a bit of a shock.

As his test run went well, Mr Bamber is now planning on taking on his Lake District challenge on September 10th. He will attempt a 50-mile hike with the fridge on his back, giving people the chance to sponsor him. His goal is to raise £3,000 for Help for Heroes, which supports wounded servicemen and women and their families.