A TEAM of 60 hardy staff from a Colchester-based firm braved gruelling weather conditions and scaled heights of up to 5,200ft in a bid to raise money for charity.

Employees of the New Homes Group, which has its head office in Peartree Road, Stanway, took on the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge in aid of Funding Neuro.

So far the intrepid fundraisers have collected nearly £35,000 for the charity, which aims to accelerate the development of new treatments for serious neurological conditions.

Nine teams from the firm, as well as from clients like Barclays Bank, took on the 24-mile route across the peaks of Pen-y-Ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough in the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

All of the groups managed the the trek within 12 hours, with the fastest group making it back to base camp in 11h 20m.

The New Homes Group, which also has offices in Berkhamsted, Peterborough and Stirling, has supported Funding Neuro with a range of fundraising initiatives since 2014.

Terry Higgins, managing director of New Homes Group, said: “The teams were looking forward to taking on this challenge and had prepared by training for the day itself and fundraising in the form of dress down days, cakes sales, raffles and other activities.

“We aim to raise as much money as possible for this important charity, a charity partnership which is very valuable to us and one we’ve partnered with for a number of years, and we are proud of our colleagues for taking part.”

Through donations and fundraising events the firm has so far raised £2,882 for Funding Neuro with the trek.

Sharon Kane, chief executive of Funding Neuro, thanked the company for its invaluable support.

She said: “The support has enabled us to support Professor Steven Gill with his reversal of Parkinson’s disease and increase life expectancy for children with the universally fatal brain tumour DIPG.

“The Three Peaks Challenge, in a beautiful part of the country, was tremendously hard work and I very much enjoyed joining all of the teams for the race to the top.

“I would like to thank the New Homes Group for organising the event, to the teams who participated and everyone donating to support our vital work.”

Donate at justgiving.com/fundraising/the-new-homes-group-yorkshire-three-peaks-challenge.