Two Bicester men are hoping to fulfil a long-held ambition by trying to complete the Three Peaks Challenge in 24 hours.

Peter Ball and his daughter’s partner Mark Stanway are keen to form a “Team Bicester” to complete the three-mountain, 11,189 ft challenge in May.

Mr Ball, of Fair Close, and Mr Stanway, of Cooper Green, are planning to scale the 4,409ft Ben Nevis, in Scotland, followed by the 3,210ft Scafell Pike, in England, and the 3,560ft Snowdon, in North Wales.

They are keen for other people to join them in their adventure in aid of Cancer Research UK and Helen and Douglas House hospices, in Oxford.

Mr Ball, 61, said: “One of my ambitions is to attempt the Three Peaks Challenge, but business and travel has made this difficult to organise in the past. Now I have the spare time.

“While not a tremendously difficult task, compared with the challenges attempted by some people, we would like to use our efforts to raise as much as possible for charity.

As well as getting up and down the mountains in good time they will have to drive 450 miles between climbs.

Mr Ball, was a sales accountant for 23 years, at software company Cognos, in Bracknell.

He said: “In these difficult financial times it will probably be hard to get commitment from local businesses, but also these are testing times for charitable organisations, so whatever amount that can be raised will have real value to them.

“We would like to see if there are local people who would like to attempt this challenge, and ask anyone interested to contact us and see if we can get a Bicester team together.”

Mr Ball, who has two children, Steven, 29, and Julia, 26, with wife Margaret, has chosen to raise money for Cancer Research UK because he said everyone knows someone who has been affected by cancer.

Mr Stanway has chosen Helen and Douglas House hospices because of their work with sick children and young adults.

If you would like to take part, call Mr Ball on 01869 244293.

bicester@oxfordmail.co.uk