A WEYMOUTH resident and former serviceman took on the challenge of climbing Mount Snowdon to raise nearly £700 for Help for Heroes. Terry Hay, 55, decided to raise money for the charity after completing the Palace to Palace cycling challenge for The Prince’s Trust and realising he wanted to do something else for charity.

He explained: “There was a programme showing young lads coming back from Afghanistan with injuries. Help for Heroes came on and talked about how they would help them, and I wanted to do my bit.”

Terry explained that as a former serviceman who served with the Army in the Falklands and numerous times in Northern Ireland the charity is close to his heart.

“It’s so important to support charities like Help for Heroes because with a lot of the programmes I was seeing, 90 per cent of them are young lads and the government didn’t do anything for them and you think, what chance have they got?

“I got a magazine and saw Snowdon and thought ‘I wouldn’t mind doing that’.”

“It was an atrocious day for climbing. The rain was tipping down, the cloud was low and the helicopter was up there to help someone else.

“I expected the bad weather but it was still awful. I just put my Army backpack on though and got on with it, and I made it to the top and down again in four hours.”

With help from family and friends Terry raised £430 and through live music, raffles and sponsorship from customers at the Belvedere Inn, he raised another £250 to make £680 overall.

When Terry came back from Snowdon the Belvedere put on a special event to welcome him back and continue fundraising.

Landlady Lin Wynd said: “I’m in awe of the community spirit shown by everyone who attended the function last Sunday, Terry was the hero for the day and everyone was generous beyond belief.” Terry passed on his thanks to everyone who supported him, saying: “I’m really grateful for everything people donated.”

If you would like to donate, visit justgiving.com/Terry-Hay.