A HOCKEY player is to test his fitness to the limit as he joins work colleagues to climb three of the UK’s highest peaks in 24 hours for charity.

Stuart Emms, vice-chairman and player at Wotton-under-Edge hockey club, is to do the Three Peaks Challenge at the end of this month to raise money for a cancer charity.

The 36-year-old has chosen to raise money for the Bobby Moore Fund, a subsidiary of Cancer Research UK, named in memory of England’s iconic footballer who died of the disease.

"This is personal to me as my father was diagnosed with bowel cancer three years ago, fortunately his tumour was tackled quickly through various treatments and operations and he continues to make a recovery," said Stuart, a father-of-one.

"Others aren't so lucky and this is a particularly virulent form of cancer with a low survival rate if not caught early."

The Three Peaks Challenge involves scaling Snowdon, Scafell Pike and Ben Nevis all within 24 hours.

Stuart, a risk officer for stockbrockers Williams de Broe in Bath, is to do the challenge with work colleagues, who have all chosen their own charities.

However Stuart, who lives in Kingswood, already knows how hard the event will be having completed it before - although he stressed that it was 11 years ago when he was ‘much fitter’.

Stuart said the toughest peak would be Scafell Pike.

"By the time you get there you have to climb it in the dark and the pathways are tough to follow, it is easy to get lost.

"Also you are only half-way through the challenge, so it is tough mentally."

Stuart and the team will be doing the Three Peaks Challenge on Saturday, June 25.

To sponsor him visit http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/williamsdebroe3peakschallenge2011