A FORMER serviceman took on a gruelling mountain mission for a children's hospice charity.

Clive Luty, a former Genadier Guard, cycled 87 miles through the Mont Ventoux in France and has raised around £1,800 funds for Hope House Children's Hospice.

Mr Luty, 50, was part of a team of 15 former service personnel who braved searing heat to ride up the mountain three times via three different routes - one of which is a Tour de France stage - with a total elevation of 18,809ft, in 24 hours.

Hope House Children's Hospices have facilities in Morda and Conwy, which provide care and support to life-limited children, young people and their families from Shropshire, Cheshire, North and Mid Wales.

Mr Luty, of Market Drayton and an assessor for Culina Logistics, was inspired by his friends Rob and Sarah who have received support from the charity.

Their names were placed on his crossbar to keep him motivated and focussed during the taxing trek.

He said: "The amount raised will be around £1,800 and my target was £500, I am blown away by the generosity of people. We started at 03:30 from Sault and about half a mile in I had a puncture and that was the only issue thankfully.

"Then we did Malaucene and then finally Bedoin (Tour De France route) and finished around 21:30, ride distance was 87.4 miles of which 44 miles was uphill and 14,386 feet in climbing.

"The heat was tremendous that day 40°+, no training in the UK could prepare us for that. On reaching the summit for the final time I must admit I broke down as I crossed the line, Rob and Sarah's name spurred me on all the while, God bless them both - and the final descent into Sault was just sheer fun max speed was 50mph and a well-earned pizza and beer afterwards."

Mr Luty is collecting the last few donations before the grand total is handed over to Hope House Children’s Hospice.

To support him, visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/clive-luty1