A FITNESS group from the North-East is training to climb three mountains in 24 hours to raise money for sick children.

Members of X-PT have been training for the National Peaks Challenge in June for the past seven months.

It involves tackling Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon, ascending over 11,000ft with around 25 miles in walking and nearly 500 miles on the road between the locations.

All of the proceeds are going to The Charlie Cookson Foundation, a North-East Charity, which financially supports parents of terminally ill children.

Matt Underwood, who runs the group, of Dorset Crescent, Consett, County Durham, said: “At X-PT we aim annually to commit to a fitness or endurance event. The Three Peaks Challenge is one that has always stood out in terms of how arduous it is and the pressures associated with completion with a challenging timescale.

“The training in itself demonstrates a massive commitment from all of our challenge members.

“Every team member is attending monthly organised climbs and walks of many of the most challenging routes in the Lake District, Yorkshire and Scotland.

“The Charlie Cookson Foundation is a fantastic local charity putting invaluable work and effort into providing funds for parents who have seriously ill children in life limiting conditions.

“We are all excited and very determined so please donate to our challenge.”

To support the group log on to www.x-pt.co.uk/news/3-peaks-challenge or

www.facebook.com/XPT2exceed