A MAN with no military background has raised more than £7,000 for Help for Heroes after completing a gruelling 50 mile hike up the Three Peaks – with a fridge strapped to his back.

Matthew Bamber was inspired to take on a challenge to raise the cash for the charity which supports wounded, injured and sick service personnel and veterans after watching this summer’s Invictus Games.

He decided to do the hike with a fridge strapped to his back because it is roughly the same weight as a soldier’s pack, and set himself the target of walking the Lake District Three Peaks in just 24 hours.

“The fridge was a good visual aid for how much soldiers have to carry in their pack. You could carry a big rucksack but it wouldn’t have the same affect,” he said.

The Northern Echo: FINISH: Matthew Bamber with the group from Phoenix House

FINISH: Matthew Bamber with the group from Phoenix House

Mr Bamber, 42, contacted Help for Heroes with his idea, and was delighted when a team of veterans from Phoenix House recovery centre in Catterick Garrison were able to join him on the hike in September.

He said: “This summer I was watching the Invictus Games, hearing the stories of the veterans and military personnel involved, and it made me want to do something to raise awareness and money for the.

“I started off looking at things the military would do, which is where I got the 50 mile hike and 30kg pack idea – and found a fridge was about the right weight to represent that.

“I got a hunting frame for the fridge from Canada, and did a bit of training – I hiked the Yorkshire Three Peaks without the fridge, then walked about 12 miles with the fridge – so the actual event was like being thrown in the deep end.”

Mark Airey, from Team True Spirit, which pushes veterans to take on challenges as part of their recovery, as well as veterans from Phoenix House, met Mr Bamber in September for the start of the hike – but after tackling Scafell Pike and Helvellyn, he twisted his knee and was unable to go on.

Mr Bamber, from Milton Keynes, said: “I was heartbroken to quit but I felt my knee go and knew I wouldn’t be able to climb the final mountain.”

But just four weeks later Mr Bamber, along with a bigger crowd of veterans, met in Keswick once again to try again – and this time they completed the challenge and have so far raised £7,400.

Ken Nash, from Malton, who attends Phoenix House to help with his recovery from PTSD, said: “I couldn’t believe that Matt wasn’t ex-forces – for a civilian to do a challenge like this is truly amazing. The whole thing was emotional, humbling, and I was so glad to be part of it.”

Visit justgiving.co.uk/thefridgehiker.