CALLING themselves the ‘Mad GOATs’ (Gradually Over Any Terrain), five Alton men and a sixth from Basingstoke have set themselves a 24-hour target to climb Britain’s three highest peaks in a bid to raise money for Prostate Cancer UK.

The idea to climb Ben Nevis in Scotland, Scafell Pike in the Lake District and Snowdon in Wales came from Daniel Rainbird, a 32-year-old sales executive who climbed Ben Nevis on his own last year.

The reason Christopher Fogg, 35, Luke Scott, 31, Richard Willoughby, 32, and Peter Christopher, 28, and their intrepid pal from Basingstoke, chose the prostate cancer charity was to support their friend and fellow climber James Wilson, 35, their team manager, whose father Robin died from the disease last year aged 72.

Mr Wilson fought a two-year battle with prostate cancer after being diagnosed during a simple check up with his GP.

He lived in Alton for more than 35 years and son James said: “Dad used to manage Alton-based Ian Allen Travel, and then went on to another role within the company which took him to Shepperton.

“He was Catholic, and a special minister at St Mary’s Catholic Church in Alton. Also, at one time, he was a governor at All Hallows Catholic Secondary School in Farnham, where all his three children were pupils.

“He used to be a member of the local Rotary club, but had to give this up due to increased work pressure.”

And he added: “Anyone who knew my father will tell you what a gentle, kind and loving man he was. And I know he would be proud of our efforts raising this money.”

James said that in preparation for the climb the team had been training individually by running, walking and cycling in the local area, but also together, completing training climbs at Snowdon and Pen Y Fan in Wales.

“We have all been friends for the past 10 years or so, and played football together for a six-a-side team called The Alton Casuals for about seven years, but stopped when some of us started to have children.”

According to James, the aim is to complete the Three Peaks Challenge in 24 hours.

“But I think just completing it will be hard enough!” he said.

“The Mad GOATs’ fundraising target is £2,000, although we have currently raised £1,525 and hope to smash through our target,” said James.

To donate, visit justgiving.com/fundraising/madgoat2017.