As journalists, we've all written about the good deeds others have done.

But at the Swindon Evening Advertiser, one pack of newshounds have decided to show their readers what they're made of and take up their own charity challenge.

The team (below) - dubbed the Adver Social Climbers - are planning to take on the Three Peaks Challenge to raise £4,000 for charity.

Next month the team of seven walkers and four drivers will leave the comfort of the newsroom and attempt to climb the tallest mountains in Scotland, England and Wales, all in 24 hours.

The walkers will be led by politics reporter Ian Fannon, (23), and also include health reporter Ben Fitzgerald, (30), crime reporter Geoff Bennett, (38), and his wife Jeni, (34), sub editor Ben Tarring, (37), and trainee reporters, Alex Emery, (26), and Anthony Osborne, (19).

They will also be joined by support crew of drivers - security guard Craig Ballantyne, (43), columnist and reporter Barrie Hudson, (34), business reporter Bill Calthrop, (63), and sales, marketing and digital media manager James Trudgian, (27).

The challenge will take place from noon on April 27 and overnight into April 28.

And with an estimated 10 hours spent on the road between mountains, the team will have just 14 hours to conquer the three peaks of Ben Nevis (4,406ft), Scafell Pike (3,205ft) and Snowdon (3,560ft).

Team leader Ian Fannon said he decided to get involved after spotting a story about the challenge in the paper a few weeks ago.

He said: "I spotted the story and turned around to the newsroom and asked if anyone was up for it.

"I was surprised to see a sea of hands go up and it has snowballed from there.

"It is obviously going to be tough, but there is no doubt it is achievable and we are nothing if not enthusiastic.

"We have been organising this for several weeks now and we are trying to get ourselves fit, but we haven't really had chance to get the fundraising going.

"That is definitely going to be the biggest hurdle and we need as much help as we can get."

The Advertiser team is one of 29 taking part in the challenge to raise money for the Mitchemp Trust, which offers outdoor opportunities for under-privileged youngsters.

It organises annual camps for groups of 13 to 17 year-olds and relies completely on voluntary donations.

The paper's managing director, Mark Suddaby, has kick-started the group's fundraising effort with £500, and the group is hoping raise the rest of the £4,000 needed from local companies, individual contributions and fundraising events.

For more information, visit www.mitchemptrust.org.uk.

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