EXECUTIVE Ian Horler has a hard mountain to climb following a tip off at a business breakfast that Maplewood School in Downley is raising funds for a hydrotherapy pool for its special needs pupils.

Ian, 40, who runs Excel Office Supplies in West Wycombe Road, High Wycombe agreed to take part in the Three Peaks Challenge after learning about the charity fundraising event from fellow breakfast guest Mike Lock of Barclays Bank who regularly attends the Handy Croisant networking club. His bank is sponsoring the charity event.

"It puts things in perspective when you hear the difficulties the kids at the school face. I was keen to do what I could to help out when Mike told me about it," he said.

Initially he was on the reserve team but when someone dropped out, his number came up. Even with the information that he will have to cover 26 miles in 24 hours and climb Ben Nevis, Scarfell Pike and Mount Snowden on June 23 he wasn't deterred.

Before he knew it, Horler, who has done half marathons, was being put through his paces with tough training sessions from his partner, Viv Robinson, who happens to be a personal fitness trainer. He knew there was no giving up when she announced he needed corrective training to conquer a pelvic tilt and ankle problems. She put him on a tough bio-mechanical' and core programme' to get him back into the peak of fitness to climb all the peaks!

"I can't get away with it, she is a hard task master. As it gets nearer I am getting excited and glad that I am taking part and having proper training," he said.

He has regular sessions at the The Fitness Studio at Treadaway Hill run by Gavin O'Brien who has also agreed to support the event and will be running fundraising events while Ian and fellow competitors take part in the climb.