LOCAL businessman, Gavin Lewis has set himself the challenge of completing the Cumbria 10 Peaks in 12 hours, in aid of raising money for Beths's Wish.

The father-of-one from Berry Hill, who runs an oven cleaning business, has been training for 10 weeks to get fit for the challenge which will take him across 10 mountains in the Lake District in one day – climbing a total of about 8,000 feet and walking more than 16 miles.

Gavin said: "I have set myself the challenge in aid of raising money for Beth's Wish, which was set up in memory of my wife's second cousin who died of a tumour last September.

"Beth was just your normal 20-year-old girl, she was training to be a nurse in Hereford but sadly she was struck by a rare tumour and, at the time, Beth was the only young person in the world to have a tumour of this size. Beth had to stop having chemotherapy because doctors said it was killing her faster than the ever-growing tumour. It was a heartbreaking time for the family because they knew that she was beyond help.

"By August, Beth was admitted to St Michael's hospice, as she was too old to go into a children's hospice, but, was too young, to be in an older environment. The work the hospice do is fantastic they literally provided Beth and her family with 'around the clock' care."

Gavin is hoping to raise £1000 which will go towards the £100,000 goal to build a dedicated young person's room, in Beth's memory, at the new, state of the art hospice that is due to be built at St Michael's.

Gavin added: "I am looking forward to undertaking this challenge. I haven't done anything like this before and it will test my fitness to say the least. I have been training solidly six days a week and have been going on long walks. My wife is very proud of me but equally as fed up because she has hardly ever seen me but it's all for a good cause. I just hope now that people help us reach our goal."

Gavin's challenge is on Saturday (June 22). If you would like to donate you can call Gavin on 07951516161 or visiting http://www.virginmoneygiving">www.virginmoneygiving. com/team/bethswishgavinlewis