TWO Skipton brothers are taking on a challenge this week to scale the height of Everest in memory of their dad, Steven Taylor, while raising money for Sue Ryder Manorlands Hospice.

Steven, who developed heart failure after treatment for Non-Hodgkin lymphoma in 2011, regularly attended the hospice day therapy drop-in service at Airedale General Hospital.

He died in October 2019.

His sons Ashley, 26, and Mark, 31, are now coming together one year later to celebrate his memory and support the vital work of the hospice which is looking at a funding gap of around £1.5 million in this financial year.

From October 29 to 31 the brothers will attempt to climb the equivalent height of Mount Everest (8,848m) on the steps of Scammonden dam in Calderdale, whilst simultaneously running a distance greater than three marathons.

Over the course of the three 8-10hr days, they will complete approximately 45 laps of a 1.17km circular route, which includes the famous 450 steps up the hillside from the valley below. Each day they will climb a height of approximately 3,000m.

Ashley, who has been training with his brother most weekends, said: “Sue Ryder Manorlands Hospice provides incredible emotional support and specialist medical care to people who are dying and those closest to them.

“Our dad and his loving partner Steph received amazing support and complementary therapies from the drop-in service, which made such a difference in a really hard time.

“The hospice is facing a serious funding gap this year due to coronavirus, so we wanted to support them by taking on this challenge.

“It’s also one year since dad’s passing and the weekend is going to be extremely sad, so it might as well be spent doing something constructive and raising some money at the same time.”

Ashley and Mark have currently raised over £1,500.

To donate to their fundraising page, visit: justgiving.com/fundraising/everestatscammonden