A man from Ripple is taking on the Rat Race Man vs Mountain challenge to raise money for two charities close to his heart.

Nick Ford, 34, of Mongeham Road, Ripple, will be competing in the challenge today (Saturday).

He is doing this in memory of his mum Linda Ford, who died in January after suffering a stroke just before Christmas.

Mrs Ford, 69, lived in Walmer and taught for a number of years including at Sir Roger Manwood’s School in Sandwich.

Her son Nick, director of Regent Electrical Distributors in Folkestone, is fundraising for the Stroke Association and Friends of Deal Hospital.

His mum was transferred to Deal Hospital just before Christmas and Mr Ford said his mum’s care there was incredible.

The challenge will see him starting at sea level at Caernarfon Castle and then the route weaves its way up to the summit of Snowdon and down the other side into Dinorwic Quarry where he will be met with an array of obstacles.

There will be a 12-mile run to the top of the mountain and 22-miles in total, a 200-metre vertical climb in a quarry and then a series of challenges from abseiling to swimming.

He said: “I’ve never done anything like this before. I did Tough Mudder but that wasn’t actually that challenging. The sheer distance on this and running up hill for 12 miles is going to be very difficult.”

The aim is to push participants to the limit at the same time as soaking up the beautiful Welsh scenery around them.

Mr Ford said: “It was the staff at Deal Hospital who made what was a difficult time bearable by the absolutely extraordinary care they gave mum. From the health care assistants to the nurses and matrons we could not have asked for any more as they looked after her as if she was their own mum, all over Christmas and the New Year. They treated the family with immense compassion and accommodated the almost 24-hour vigil we kept at mum’s bedside.”

So far he has raised more than £6,000.

n To sponsor Nick visit either of his fundraising pages, justgiving.com/fundraising/Nick-Ford9 or justgiving.com/Nick-Ford10