Sick and vulnerable babies will be helped by the efforts of a Broadstairs lecturer who trekked the Inca trail to Machu Picchu.

John Osborne, who teaches construction trades at Thanet College, tackled a demanding trail through mountain passes up to 4,200 metres.

The challenges included travelling over hundreds of ancient steps, through dense cloud forest and sub tropical vegetation to reach the mystical lost city of the Incas.

Mr Osborne, 45, has raised more than £3,000 for Action Medical Research behind the Touching Tiny Lives appeal.

Mr Osborne said: “The highlight of the trek was finally arriving at the Sun Gate, overlooking the Inca city. The scenery is amazing and the fact that what you are doing will help people who really need it makes it even better.

“The sense of achievement from raising money to help sick and vulnerable babies and at the same time completing the trek is something you cannot comprehend until you have done it.”

Jo Pickard, from the charity, said: “Our trekkers fantastic fundraising efforts will enable us to support vital work that could help cure or treat conditions that devastate the lives of many thousands of babies and children and their families. We are now on the hunt for some more amazing people to join our next Peru trek in June 2009.

For more information visit: www.action.org.uk or call 0870 333 1662