A PENDLE man is preparing for a ‘deeply personal’ fundraising challenge in memory of his dad.

Gavin Roper, of Fence, is training for a solo climb to the Mount Everest base camp next November.

He is raising funds for Nelson Manor Care Home, where his dad, Bruce, spent his final days, and The Alzheimer’s Society.

Last week he walked from Burnley to Preston and, in a few weeks, he will walk to Chorley to try to improve his strength and stamina.

The 35-year-old said: “I have done other fundraising challenges in the past, most notably climbing 19,340ft up the Kilimanjaro mountain in Africa in five days.

However, when I lost my dad to Alzheimer’s earlier this year, the fundraising became deeply personal.”

Bruce, 74, died on Easter Monday after a long battle.

Gavin said: “I am training with long endurance walks. I will also be doing the three peaks challenge, and I am going up Pendle Hill pretty much every night.

“I raised £8,000 when I climbed Kilimanjaro, so I would like to try and get to £9,000 or £10,000 this time. It’s also about raising the profile of this illness, which has a terrible impact on family, as well as sufferers.”

Nelson Manor Care Home manager Janine Kelly said: “We really love it when we can stay in touch with families after residents pass away, and are fortunate to have established strong ties with a number of relatives who continue to support the home.”

To sponsor Gavin register your details on www.nelsonmanor.co.uk/fundraising or call Gavin on 07720 710325.