A FUNDRAISER has managed to conquer Everest – without leaving North Yorkshire – to raise more than £1,000 for a girl’s brave battle against a rare and aggressive cancer.

Anthony Garbutt, originally from Guisborough but now living in Thirsk, took up the challenge to climb Roseberry Topping, near Great Ayton, 28 times on Saturday (July 12) in just under 19 hours.

His feat is helping raise money to support Gaby Alderson, 11, of South Otterington, near Thirsk, who is suffering from stage four MYCN-amplified neuroblastoma.

Mr Garbutt said he was touched by her story after hearing about her through one of his colleagues at his Thisk-based Belvoir Lettings agency.

He said: “My staff member Emily Savage’s little boy goes to the same school as Gaby and it inspired me to help."

Mr Garbutt got the idea for his challenge after seeing a similar effort publicised on Twitter, which involved a group climbing Roseberry Topping to the equivalent of Kilimanjaro – and he wanted to do one better.

“Roseberry Topping stands at a modest 1,050 feet compared to Everest at 29,029 feet, which means I had to climb up and down 28 times to match Everest.

“I started at 4am on Saturday and finished at 10.40pm, but I really underestimated the challenge and would not have been able to do it without family and friends spurring me on, especially my mum, aunt and sister who walked the last part with me.

“It was a very hot day and it was exhausting, but we had banners up letting people know what I was doing and the support and donations I got were fantastic – it really helped to put a spring in my step.”

Mr Garbutt has so far raised £1,056 but said he was more sponsorship money to come in, and will keep his Just Giving page open to try and boost the final amount.

He said: “I started a yearly fundraising drive when my friend Jamie Morgan, from Guisborough, was also fighting cancer and having treatment in the US.

“Sadly he died after contracting pneumonia after a trip home in 2009, but when Jamie’s mum and dad heard about this challenge they donated the rest of the money from his appeal, about £300, to Gaby, despite never meeting her, which is very touching and generous of them.”

To contribute to Mr Garbutt’s appeal visit justgiving.com/Garbutt or text Ever81, plus the amount, to 70070.

For details about fundraising for Gaby visit facebook.com/ GabrielleAldersonsAppeal or Twitter @gabysappeal.