THE directors and staff of a Middlewich-based company have raised £9,000 for Christies Hospital, in Manchester, through a gruelling 'Iron Man' challenge.

The 10-strong team from Pochin, on Brooks Lane, undertook a monster task which involved a mixture of strenuous climbing, cycling and canoeing events all over the Lake District.

Suppliers, customers and friends of the construction and specialist plant firm sponsored the challenge team, helping them to raise the enormous sum.

The challenge began with a climb up Scafell Pike and ended by canoeing across Ullswater. Other stages included climbing the Old Man of Coniston, canoeing Coniston Lake and Windermere, and climbing Helvellyn.

Pochin representative Richard Buck said: "Our yearly Iron Man challenges are something we train hard for and are determined to complete.

"The challenge this year was very tough, especially climbing the Old Man Of Coniston right after we had canoed the lake, but we all managed to finish."

Christies Hospital is particularly close to the hearts of company directors Antony and David Pochin, and their brother Matthew, who all took part in the challenge.

Their father, Michael, suffered from cancer and was treated at Christies before his death five years ago.

Last year's Iron Man challenge involved a triathlon around Snowdon which raised £8,500, taking the total Pochin has raised for Christies close to £20,000.

The challenge team are already making plans for next summer's fundraiser, which they say will be even tougher!

The cash raised by the team will go towards the Christies Against Cancer Appeal, which aims to raise £25 million before the hospital's centenary in 2001, to aid its cancer research.

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