THE memory of his mother is driving a York man on to a peak performance as he aims to raise money to help combat the UK’s biggest killer.

Matt Richardson and his friends from Tockwith are preparing to tackle a gruelling test of endurance as they face down the prospect of striding across three of Yorkshire’s toughest peaks.

The group – who have dubbed themselves the Tockwith Trekkers – will have only 12 hours to complete Heart Research UK’s Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge, and run a 25-mile route consisting of Whernside, Ingleborough and Pen-y-ghent, which have a collective height of 2,153m.

As he takes on the arduous high-altitude expedition, many of 37-year-old Matt’s thoughts will be devoted to his mother Pat, who died of a heart attack last year, aged 68.

Despite having an active lifestyle, Pat suffered a mycococardial infarction, where the blood supply to part of the heart becomes blocked, and was airlifted to hospital. Four days later, she suffered the heart attack which claimed her life.

Now Matt and his friends hope to raise £1,000 to help Heart Research UK’s studies into the prevention, treatment and cure of heart disease when their trek takes place on Saturday, June 20.

“A few of us play football on Monday nights and some of them said they were going to take part in the event,” said Matt.

“I’d thought about doing something like this for the past year, and when they said they were doing it for Heart Research UK, it seemed the perfect opportunity.

“I’ve never done anything as challenging as this, especially when it’s raising money for charity, so it will be a bit of a step into the unknown for me. But it’s an exciting prospect and I’m looking forward to it.

“It just seemed an appropriate way of keeping myself fit and raising funds for a cause which is dear to me after my mum’s death, which came as a great shock. We’ll be camping out the night before and will then have 12 hours to complete the challenge, but we’re hoping to do it in nine.”

This year marks the 13th time Heart Research UK has staged the challenge, and its community fundraising manager, Derek Edwards, said: “It’s brilliant that Matt is taking part and joining the other walkers in remembrance of somebody.

“We still have places available and you can choose to complete one, two or three peaks. There is also no entry fee – all we ask is for walkers to raise as much sponsorship as possible.”

For more information, phone Derek at Heart Research UK on 0113 234 7474 or e-mail fundraising@heartresearch.org.uk.