RELATIVES and friends of a mum-of-two who lost her brave battle with cancer are set to compete the gruelling Three Peaks challenge in her memory.

Lea Hoole, 39, died on May 10 this year after a three year battle with breast cancer.

Now friends and family of the Crawshawbooth publications manager have decided to climb the highest mountains in England, Scotland and Wales in just 24 hours.

Team Rossendale, led by Lea’s brother Shane Nieuwenhuizen, will climb Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike in the Lakes and Mount Snowden to raise money for three charities in her memory on July 1.

Ex-soldier Shane said: “The Three Peaks is a serious challenge. I’ve been leading the team in training now for several weeks and it’s tough.

“I have been training throughout Lea’s battle and now that she has been taken from us, I am even more determined to complete it and do something worthwhile in my sister’s memory."

The charities chosen in her memory include Breakthrough Breast Cancer, Help the Heroes and Stepping Stones Development Centre in Haslingden.

Team member Paula Riley, of Riley’s butchers in Crawshawbooth, said: “It’s really heartbreaking that Lea passed away leaving her two little girls, husband and family behind.

“As a group we want to raise as much money as possible to help find a cure for this disease which tears so many lives apart.

“All the guys and gals in the team are paying their own way on the trip and we have Riley’s own trained physio, Gemma on hand, though we’re hoping we won’t need her skills in that department.”

The rest of Team Rossendale includes John Claxton, of Claxtons, Clare Kelly, from the Nail Academy, Carmelo Pillitteri, from Ninos, and Mick and Marv Blades, from Blades Building services.

To donate visit justgiving.com/paula-riley