A SALES director with Persimmon Homes West Yorkshire – which is planning a major development in Keighley – tackled a gruelling challenge in aid of a children's hospice.

Simon Whalley completed a 75-kilometre trek, over three days, across the Cairngorms National Park.

His efforts raised more than £5,000 for the Forget Me Not hospice, at Huddersfield.

Mr Whalley – who was accompanied by a friend, Paul D'Ambrogio – said: "I must admit I'm more of a hotel man than happy camper but the whole experience was gratifying and fun!

"We walked for ten hours each day and met very few other trekkers, but the beautiful landscape and wildlife was more than enough to keep us entertained – it took my breath away.

"As a company we have supported Forget Me Not for a number of years and I wanted to make a further contribution, but felt it had to be something out of my comfort zone.

"We had rain, sun and snowy peaks, got our drinking water from the stream and now have feet covered in blisters, but it was definitely worth it."

Emma Kovaleski, corporate fundraiser at Forget Me Not, pays tribute.

"Many fundraising challenges are about achieving something that you think you can't do and Simon is a perfect example of this," she said.

"We would like to say a huge thank-you and well done to Simon on completing his challenge."

Persimmon has approval to build 124 houses in Occupation Lane, Keighley.