TWO brothers are taking on a mammoth challenge in memory of their dad and to raise money for the hospice that supported him.

Ashley and Mark Taylor are scaling the equivalent height of Mount Everest – 8,848 metres – by climbing the steps of Scammonden Dam, near Huddersfield. And they will simultaneously run a distance greater than three marathons.

Ashley, 26, and Mark, 31, begin their gruelling challenge next Thursday (Oct 29) and aim to finish within three days.

All the proceeds are for Oxenhope Sue Ryder hospice Manorlands, whose day therapy drop-in service at Airedale Hospital was used regularly by their father Steven.

Mr Taylor developed heart failure after treatment for Non-Hodgkin lymphoma in 2011. He died in October last year.

Ashley, who has been spending most weekends training with his brother, said: “Manorlands provides incredible emotional support and specialist medical care to people who are dying and those closest to them.

“Our dad and his loving partner Steph received amazing support and complementary therapies from the drop-in service, which made such a difference during a really hard time.

“The hospice is facing a serious funding gap this year due to coronavirus, so we wanted to support it by taking on this challenge. It’s also one year since dad’s passing and the weekend is going to be extremely sad, so it might as well be spent doing something constructive and raising some money at the same time.”

The brothers have set-up a fundraising page, at justgiving.com/fundraising/everestatscammonden.

Liv Moffat, a community fundraiser at Manorlands, said: “We are so grateful to Ashley and Mark for taking on this incredible challenge and supporting the hospice. It’s a very special way to pay tribute to Steven on the anniversary of his passing.”