A man who describes himself as “overweight, unfit and with Type 2 diabetes” is taking part in a military-style fitness boot camp and preparing for a night hike up Ben Nevis to raise money for Help for Heroes.

Paul Worsley, who lives in Stevenage, will be taking on the challenge with his wife, Mary, and friend Michelle Rudzki, who lives in Ickleford.

The trio, who all attend Corps Fitness in Stevenage, are holding a three-hour boot camp led by their trainer Sam Austen tomorrow, to help kickstart their fundraising before the hike in August.

Mary, 50, said: “My husband and I joined Corps Fitness about a year ago as part of a campaign to get fit.

“We have been looking for challenges to keep us motivated and this Ben Nevis night trek cropped up.

“This is a big challenge for us and we are doing route marches carrying sandbags as part of our preparation, but I’m more scared about the fact we’re going to be doing it in the dark!

“Sam used to be a personal trainer in the military, so that’s why we are doing it for Help for Heroes.”

The trekkers are hoping to see the Milky Way and Perseid meteor shower, and arrive at the top of Ben Nevis in time to see the sunrise.

Paul, 55, said: “I am overweight, unfit and have Type 2 diabetes.

“A friend held a three-hour charity boot camp in March last year and I went along to support, thinking I would dip in and out of events. Three hours later, I was hooked.

“Now I am a few stone lighter, a lot fitter and feeling ready to take on another challenge.”

Tickets for the boot camp, which starts at 10am in Stevenage’s Canterbury Park and is open to people of all abilities, are £15 per person – and all proceeds will go to Help for Heroes, a charity which provides lifelong support for service personnel and military veterans who have served in the British Armed Forces.

Mary said: “You don’t need to be fit to take part, as Sam will make adaptions for individuals. During the three-hour boot camp there will be lots of different sessions using equipment such as tyres, logs, ladders and medicine balls.”

For more information and to book your place, call Mary on 07967 047292.

To sponsor Mary and Paul for the Ben Nevis challenge, visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/paul-worsley3.