A COMMUNITY group from Bicester has raised more than £10,000 for a baby charity by completing the gruelling Three Peaks Challenge.

Members of the Joel’s Heroes fundraising group successfully scaled Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon – the highest mountains in Scotland, England and Wales – in 28 hours.

The 19-strong team of hikers, many of whom live at the new Kingsmere village on the edge of Bicester, completed the trek in aid of Tommy’s.

The charity supports parents-to-be during pregnancy and carries out vital research into miscarriage, stillbirth and premature birth.

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Joel’s Heroes was set up by Gary and Vicky Hodgins, whose son Joel spent three and a half weeks in intensive care after being born premature after just 28 weeks.

Now aged four, Joel defied doctors’ predictions to recover from a serious illness, and the experience inspired his parents to fundraise for various charities.

Oxford Mail:

The group’s Three Peaks fundraising efforts were bolstered by a donation of £500 from local housing developer Ashberry Homes, which is building new homes at the Royal Retreat development at Kingsmere.

Ashberry South Midlands sales manager Angela Nurse said: “It’s very important to us to support local groups in the areas in which we build our homes.”

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The 19 walkers completed the challenge in a little over a day, walking 23 miles up and down the three mountains and driving more than 600 miles between the peaks.

Carla Wilson, Joel’s Heroes fundraiser, said: “We’re ever so grateful for Ashberry’s contribution to our fundraising. It has made a huge difference to us.”

Fellow fundraiser, and Joel’s mum, Vicky, said: “We have completed many challenges as a group, but this was our biggest yet.

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"We tackled it because Joel’s Heroes never give up, never lose hope, and keep on fighting.”

Visit the Joel’s Heroes JustGiving page at justgiving.com/fundraising/joelsheroes

For information on the new homes being built by Ashberry, visit ashberryhomes.co.uk.