Journalists from a regional daily are set to take on the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge to support their newspaper’s fundraising appeal for a local hospice.

Sheffield’s The Star launched a campaign in May to support St Luke’s Hospice which is aiming to raise £5m to fund a transformation to secure its future.

The paper is backing the hospice’s appeal and has pledged to raise £100,000 itself over the next two years towards rebuilding the centre’s inpatient unit.

As part of this, a six-strong team from the Star will take on the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge on 18 August, to climb the three highest hills in the county – Pen-y-Ghent, Ingleborough and Whernside in the Yorkshire Dales.

The team are journalists Ellen Beardmore, Claire Lewis, Polly Rippon and Richard Marsden, plus production staff Julia Armstrong and Simon Waller and their 24.5-mile trek must be completed within 12 hours.

The team, pictured from left, are Ellen Beardmore, Claire Lewis, Richard Marsden, Simon Waller, Julia Armstong and Polly Rippon.

Richard, who is the Star’s political reporter, said: “St Luke’s is a very deserving appeal and we decided it would be a great idea to help raise some money towards the project.

“We are now in training for the adventure and appealing for readers to help us with sponsorship, all of which will be donated to help this worthwhile cause.”

The newspaper is also entering a team in an It’s a Knockout contest being held in the city on 9 September.

The £5m project at the hospice aims to create a new inpatient unit with 14 single en-suite rooms and two three-bed bays.

Work has already started on the transformation because the facilities are tired and failing to meet “current best practice guidance”, according to the latest Care Quality Commission inspection.

Launching the appeal, Star editor Jeremy Clifford said: “The Star has a long association with St Luke’s, which is held dearly in the hearts of generations of Sheffield people.

“This appeal is vital for helping ensure the future of the excellent care the charity provides for people at the end of their lives.”

To sponsor team, click here.