FOOTSORE staff from a Ripon estate agency have pushed themselves to the limit to raise £20,000 for children with terminal illnesses.

Linley & Simpson marked its 20th anniversary by setting staff the gruelling non-stop challenge of hiking 20 miles across 20 Lake District peaks in support of its charity of the year, Martin House children’s hospice, near Wetherby.

Just over 13 hours after they set off, and having burned over 100,000 calories and climbed 8,000 flights of stairs between them, the team of 11 conquered the challenge - taking a route never attempted before.

Director Will Linley said: “We’ve set ourselves some tough challenges before – ranging from Tough Mudder army assault course to the Brownlee brothers’ triathlon.

“But this was far tougher than we had anticipated.

"Many even went as far as to say they’d rather run a marathon that do it again, which gives you an idea of how physically testing it was for us.

“I’d like to praise all my colleagues for rising to the challenge, and thank all those who backed the cause with generous donations.”

Not content with conquering the Lakes peaks, staff also completed an extended version of the Patterdale Horseshoe route, representing an ascent totalling 8,032 feet - the equivalent of almost two Ben Nevis mountain climbs.

John Haigh, corporate fundraiser for Martin House which itself is celebrating its 30th anniversary year, said: "Team Linley & Simpson have been an absolute delight to work with over the last year, supporting the children and families at our hospice in so many ways - but in no way more gruelling than their 20 peaks challenge."