FUNDRAISERS in Steeple Morden have raised a huge �30,000 for charity, partly by undertaking one of the toughest challenges in Britain.

Thirteen regulars at the Waggon and Horses pub in the village climbed to the peaks of the UK’s three highest mountains in just 24 hours, to raise money for the daughter of one of the climbers who is suffering from a rare form of leukaemia.

Charlotte Parr, aged 5, was diagnosed with the disease 2 years ago, and locals of the pub were inspired to raise money for Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research, which survived solely on charity donations.

They decided, along with Charlotte’s parents Karl and Suzie, to undertake a series of fund raising events, culminating with the mountain climb, which included Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon, on June 1.

Sandra Lloyd, landlady of the Waggon and Horses pub, said: “My husband and I are quite keen walkers and we were talking about it at the bar one night about a year ago.

“Someone said it would be a good thing to do as a challenge, and more and more people started saying they would be interested. Then we thought if we were going to do something about it the opportunity is there to raise quite a lot of money for Charlotte’s charity.”

After accumulating as much sponsorship as they could the group embarked on the climb. “It was tough. At the time it’s immense and the exhilaration was amazing. But after 24 hours of doing it you cannot remember how hard it was,” said Mrs Lloyd.

As well as conquering the mountains, the pub held quizzes, golf days, an auction and an evening with former England rugby player Jeremy Guscott.

“The evening with Jeremy Guscott was fantastic. Karl Parr bumped into him at another charity event and told him Charlotte’s story, he then volunteered to come down to do a dinner speech.”

“He also said I made the best Beef Wellington in the world!”

After hearing about the fund raising, Annette How from the Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research visited the pub and was given a cheque for �31,700 at a presentation last week (Thursday).

Mrs How said: “It’s a fantastic amount and it will make such a big difference. People here were all touched by little Charlotte’s story, and everyone in the village has got behind it.

Charlotte Parr missed her first year at school due to her illness, but has recently started attending Steeple Morden Primary. She has undergone a bone marrow transplant since being diagnosed, and is making good progress.

The Parr family have been on holiday in Devon, which is the first trip they have been able to take since Charlotte’s diagnosis.

You can still donate via the pub’s charity website, at www.justgiving.com/waggonchallenge.