AN ex-boxer is fighting fit to tackle a record-breaking hike of Pendle Hill a week after being involved in a serious car accident.

And when Kevin Maree gets to the top of the hill, he'll march back down again -- TEN TIMES over!

Kevin, 24, of Beaufort Street, Nelson, and pal former Royal marine Johnny Roe, of Cononley, Skipton, aim to climb Pendle 10 times on the trot on Hallowe'en.

The intrepid pair of Ribble Valley fitness instructors will attempt a record-breaking sponsored hike to raise cash for charity.

But the charity trek was nearly off when Johnny suffered a serious car accident last week in Lothersdale, North Yorkshire.

Kevin, a fomer pupil of Fisher-More High School, Colne, walked away from the accident with cuts and bruises while the car sustained substantial damage.

The two fitness instructors hope to raise £4,000 from their mammoth effort to buy a defibrillator for the Ribble Valley Country Club, the leisure centre attached to the Stirk House Hotel, Gisburn, where they work.

Hotel managers have also sponsored them on a cardiac rehabilitation course, which will qualify them to teach fitness to people recovering from heart attacks and surgery.

Kevin said: "People are being asked to dip into their pockets for all sorts of sponsored events these days, so we wanted to come up with a fundraising idea that was both challenging and unique. As far as we know, no-one has ever climbed Pendle 10 times in one day.

"We believe we can do it and hope to be joined by country club members on our last ascent. Defibrilators can save lives when people suffer heart problems and that's why we want to buy one for the club, should the need ever arise."

Kevin said he had received several phone calls from people wondering if he would be able to undertake the walk following the car crash. "The answer is a definite yes. We'll be going ahead with the walk and even donning fancy dress for the last leg. The walk will be about 70 miles altogether and people think we're nuts!" he added.

The dynamic duo have already raised £1,000 from the walk and expect to tot up thousands more pounds in sponsorship.

They are also organising a gala Christmas party at the Stirk House Hotel and a bumper raffle to raise further funds.

Anyone who would like to sponsor Kevin and Johnny can contact them at the Ribble Valley Country Club on 01200 445099.