SCHOOL caretaker Keith Hunt decided he needed a challenge - so he signed up for a charity trek that should make Exmoor's hills look like a walk in the park.

The 53-year-old from Old Cleeve will be taking part in a Mandalas and Mountains charity trek to the outer foothills of the Himalayas in October.

But before he embarks on the trip that will involve walking up to 15 kilometres a day fo five days over steep terrain at altitudes of up to 3,200 metres, Keith is facing a challenge of a different sort.

He must raise at least £3,500 to take part - and every penny in the bag will go to St Margaret's Somerset Hospice.

Keith, who works at Old Cleeve First School, is planning a series of fundraising events and has already held two coffee mornings, which have brought in just over £300 to kick-start the sponsorship bid.

And at the most recent, last Saturday, Keith won the support of West Somerset Council chairman Cllr Tony Knight and local ward member Cllr Martin Dewdney.

Cllr Knight not only turned up at the coffee morning but also announced that he would be staging a quiz in April to boost Keith's fundraising efforts.

He will be helped by his daughter Kirsty Cornish, who is a nursery nurse at the school's nursery.

"I know from first hand experience just how much Keith helps the fundraising events at the school and elsewhere so I am very happy to to lend my support to his latest challenge," said Cllr Knight.

"I admire what he is doing - it won't be easy."

Keith is no stranger to raising money for charity and in the past has completed a sponsored cycle ride to London in aid of the capital's Great Ormond Street Hospital and undertaken a parachute jump to boost the funds of the Musgrove Leukaemic Group.

He chose St Margaret's Somerset Hospice to benefit from his latest challenge after losing his mother to cancer last year.

"Everybody knows someone who has suffered from cancer - it is a disease that affects so many people and lives that I just wanted to do something to help," he said.

The hospice is committed to providing palliative care, advice and support to patients and their families in Somerset and last year helped more than 8,000 people affected by life limiting illness.

It never charges or asks for money for its services and, although 29 per cent of the funding needed for its clinical staff comes from the NHS, the remaining 71 per cent is provided by charitable donations.

"I just hope as many people as possible will feel, like me, that this vital resource is worth supporting," said Keith, who is beginning to train for his forthcoming trek - despite suffering a bout of pneumonia in January.

Anyone who wants to support his efforts can contact him on 01984 640487 or 07989 136591 or donate online at http://www.virginmoneygiving.com/keithhunt">www.virginmoneygiving.com/keithhunt.

Cllr Knight's quiz will be held on April 21 at Washford Village Hall at 7.30pm.

Teams of four will be able to take part at a cost of £5 per head to include supper.

To register, contact Cllr Knight on 01984 634098 or Mrs Cornish on 01984 633180.

Photo: Steve Guscott