Taunton to support soldiers with climbing challenge

A pair of Taunton men are planning to climb Glastonbury Tor 70 times – the equivalent of a Mount Everest ascent – in order to raise money that will be used to support soldiers.

The Somerset County Gazette reports former marine Mick Cawley and Tom Leatt will tackle the 3,480m challenge to generate funds for Help for Heroes.

And they are deliberately doing very little training so as to simulate the lack of oxygen they would have to deal with if they were climbing Everest for real.

Speaking to the news source, Mr Cawley, 43, said the aim was to "make the challenge as realistic as possible", adding they intend to complete the ascent in around ten hours.

A physical test of a different kind is being undertaken by Claire and Alex Morley from Altrincham in Greater Manchester, who, according to the local Messenger newspaper, are jogging the length of Hadrian's Wall to raise money for the charity.

Posted by Mark Wilkins