A FORMER York soldier is to set to undergo a 24-hour gruelling fitness challenge to raise money for troops who have been wounded in battle.

Richard Stainforth and two work mates are to climb 24 of the highest peaks in the Lake District – each more than 2,400ft high – within 24 hours in a bid to raise £2,400 for the Help For Heroes charity, which supports wounded soldiers.

A former Fulford school pupil, Richard joined the Army after finishing his studies and spent ten years in the forces – an experience which saw him witness “first-hand” the battles injured soldiers face.

“Watching troops return home from conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan gave me a pang in my stomach and I knew I had to do something to help,” he said. “That’s when I came up with the idea of doing the Lake District 24 Peak Challenge for the cause.”

Richard, 33, will be attempting the gruelling task over the August Bank Holiday weekend with Paul James and Garry Robertson-Lee, who work alongside him at the vehicle tracking company Masternaut, a job he has held since leaving the Army.

The route covers a total distance of 32 miles, climbing a combined total of more than 13,000 feet and scaling some of Britain’s tallest peaks including Helvellyn and Scafell Pike.

However, the intrepid trekkers are yet to start training for the event. “We have done absolutely nothing,” said Richard. “But we are getting a training regime put together and planning to do some practise climbs in the Lake District as soon as we can.

“This challenge is not for the faint- hearted, and we need to be prepared physically and mentally for the challenges to come.”

Not only is Richard taking on the challenge to raise money for Help For Heroes, but he also wants to raise awareness of the charity.

“Being in the Royal Armouries, I had first-hand experience of what these soldiers go through and I’m painfully aware of how hard the troops have got it these days. So helping them in any way I can is something I’m very passionate about.”

Help For Heroes was launched in October 2007 to help wounded troops coming back from Afghanistan and Iraq.

To date, the cause has raised more than £17 million. To sponsor Richard, Paul and Garry, visit www.justgiving.com/masternaut24peak. Alternatively, anyone who wants to be involved in the event can contact Richard at 24PeakChallenge@googlemail.com