A Pendleside Hospice supporter – who has already raised almost £30,000 for the hospice in memory of his mum who passed away in 2019 – has set about raising another incredible amount.

Carl Hodgson, who turns 50 on June 28, is using the milestone to raise thousands of pounds more by launching his Pendle Hill Step Challenge.

He started his own personal challenge on March 1 when he committed himself to walking up Pendle every day until his birthday weekend and then on June 26 and 27 he intends to walk 50 laps of Pendle.

Carl who lives with his partner Justine and their two children in Fence, has already reached his £5,000 target in sponsorship.

He is now challenging others to conquer Pendle and then nominate five other people to do the same. But there is a twist to Carl’s Pendle Hill Step Challenge – you don’t have to actually walk up Pendle Hill!

He said: “I am making the challenge available to anyone anywhere in the world whether we are under coronavirus restrictions or not.

“Instead of walking up Pendle people can either walk the equivalent number of steps, which is 4,000 around their garden, homes, streets or parks, or walk up and down their staircase at home to cover the same distance, that’s 131 times up and 131 times down!

“I’m just asking people to choose whichever works best for them. And if you would rather simply donate £10 without doing any walking that’s fine too!

“In these unusual times Pendleside needs us more than ever so this is something we all can do to help.”

Previously Carl has walked in memory of his mum Maureen, who was cared for at Pendleside in 2019. He trekked 54 laps of Pendle in 33 hours covering 82 miles and ran the virtual London Marathon last October.

He added: “Hopefully, we will be fully out of lockdown by my birthday weekend so I would love as many people to join me as possible for a celebratory lap like we did back in 2019. While I have set a £5,000 target, hopefully, we will raise a lot more for this amazing place.”

Helen McVey, Pendleside’s chief executive, said: “Carl’s efforts are truly outstanding and we can’t thank him enough. I would appeal to everyone to use his Pendle Hill Step Challenge as a way of easing themselves out of lockdown and at the same time raising money that is so sorely needed after we have lost so much fundraising revenue over the last 12 months.”

To get involved in the Pendle Hill Step Challenge and to donate to Carl’s efforts go to https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/carl-hodgson4