A GROUP of friends face a test of endurance this week when they climb the three highest peaks in Britain.

Among the seven mates preparing to scale Ben Nevis, Snowdon and Scafell Pike is Dan Matthews, whose father died of cancer earlier this year.

They will be raising money for Great Oaks Hospice in Coleford, Headway Gloucestershire and Cancer Research.

Dan revealed: “These charities all have a lot of meaning for us – as well as a lot of our families being affected by cancer, my friend and his wife have had help from Headway Gloucestershire due to brain injury.

“Our group of seven was established when my dad was diagnosed and we’ve kept going for two years with our fitness/training team the Bears Lair, which is named after Dad as people called him ‘The Bear’.”

The group will start the challenge on Friday (July 12).