COMMITTED walker Chris Upton is getting in some serious miles as he prepares to take on the arduous Yorkshire Dales Three Peaks Challenge - twice in one day.

The 37-year-old, of Silsden, is doing a regular walk to his work in Skipton and has also completed his first long distance trek - the 25 miles from Leeds to Silsden along the canal, which he finished in just over six hours.

But it's not just about the challenge - Chris is undertaking the Three Peaks, on Saturday, July 6, to raise awareness of the debilitating illness endometriosis, which can cause chronic pain, fatigue and even infertility in women. He is also raising money for national organisation Endometriosis UK.

Chris, who is a support worker with the National Autistic Society (formerly Mencap) in Skipton, explained: "My partner Michelle Middleton suffers from the condition and started the local support group herself.

"I wanted to do something to help and thought the Three Peaks in under 20 hours was a suitable challenge - in a way it's a metaphor for the daily struggles that endometriosis sufferers endure.

"We both feel it's very important to raise awareness of just how serious and painful having this illness can be. It's important that sufferers know there is support to be found."

Endometriosis is a condition where cells lining the womb migrate to other parts of the body, causing chronic pain and inflammation.

Around 1.5 million women in the UK are currently living with the condition and it can affect all females of a childbearing age, regardless of race or ethnicity.

Although much rarer, a similar condition causing severe pain can also be found in men.

Michelle, also 37, started the Bradford, Leeds and Skipton support group after being diagnosed. She says she was "stunned" to find that no local support group existed, so decided to start one herself. It now meets monthly and there are occasional guest speakers.

The average Yorkshire Three Peaks trek is roughly around 25 miles, takes about 12 hours and includes more than 5,200 feet of ascending, so Chris says he is well aware he going to have to keep up a high average pace to do it twice within 20 hours.

He said: "Obviously, it's going to be very hard work, but my preparation is going well. And it will be nothing compared to what endometriosis sufferers have to deal with."

Donations can be made at: www.justgiving/michelle-middleton5. Michelle can be found on Twitter at: Michelle Middleton@endohelpgroup.