OUR Guardian Angels appeal is set to be given its biggest boost to date - thanks to these intrepid fundraisers.

Staff at Hunters estate agents are taking on the famous Three Peaks Challenge next year in aid of our appeal, and they plan to raise an impressive £10,000.

To complete the challenge, the dozen mountaineering estate agents must climb Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Mount Snowdon - all in 24 hours.

"We will raise the £10,000, there's no question about it," said Hunters director Keith Hollinrake. "Giving back to the community is a big part of what we're about. We like challenges like this.

"I read about Guardian Angels in the paper. One of the reasons it appealed to me was because it was for children.

"We also support Martin House Hospice (for children and young people) at Wetherby.

"I think it's absolutely critical that this kind of facility is available in York. Having these facilities available locally could well save more lives, which is the critical thing, but secondly, it will enable local families to go and spend time with their children who are in there."

Hunters raises thousands for charity each year. Staff raised £5,000 by completing the Great North Run earlier this year.

A further £25,000 was raised at the company's annual ball in September. A golf day produced £13,000 for St Monica's Hospital in Easingwold, and employees are also planning a bike ride from John O'Groats to Land's End, which they hope will raise £50,000.

Over the past five years, the company has raised more than £230,000 for charity.

Now staff plan to complete their Three Peaks challenge for our Guardian Angels appeal next July.

Dr Robin Ball, consultant paediatrician at York Hospital, said: "This is just the sort of boost that the appeal needs at this time."

How we can help

IF YOU are holding a charity event, such as a coffee morning or sponsored walk, we can help you publicise it in two ways.

Let us know about it and we'll put something in the Evening Press, to make sure as many people as possible support your efforts.

Phone our newsdesk on 01904 653051 or email us at newsdesk@ycp.co.uk.

Click on the appeal icon on our home page, www.thisisyork.co.uk and you'll be led through to a section complete with a downloadable poster which you can customise to generate more publicity.

Updated: 09:52 Saturday, October 29, 2005