A DEVOTED son seeks to summit more than 200 Lake District peaks in less than four weeks to help people who suffer from the same condition as his father.

Jack Roberts, 22, whose family runs the Dale Lodge Hotel in Grasmere, will complete the Wainwright Challenge this June in order to raise funds and awareness for Parkinsons UK.

Jack, who studies geography at Loughborough University, said: "Having grown up in the Lake District, it's all about the outdoors to me. My family is very active, and I have probably been carried up fells on my dad's back before I could even walk.

"I was looking for a challenge to set for myself in order to raise money and awareness. This is a charity close to me and since the Lake District is so important to me, there was no better place to complete my chosen challenge."

With a total ascent and descent equivalent to 5 Mount Everest’s, Jack's aim is to complete the challenge within 25 days.

Seeking to summit all 214 of the peaks that feature in fell legend Alfred Wainwright's seven Lake District guide books, this epic trek will see Jack self-navigate the 450 miles averaging up to 20 miles per day.

Jack, who has two older brothers, was five years old when his father was diagnosed with Parkinsons, a progressive neurological condition where lack of dopamine causes loss of nerve cells in the brain, triggering tremors, rigidity, and slowness of movement.

Jack was inspired to take on the challenge by his father's attitude to his illness.

"He is an incredibly admirable bloke," said Jack. "He works seven days a week. He is first up in the morning and the last to bed in the evening. You never hear him complain. He just gets on with it. His attitude is incredible."

Jack will train for the Wainwrights by completing the Three Peaks Challenge in early June. It will involve summiting the UK's three highest peaks - Ben Nevis, Scafell and Snowdon - in under 24 hours. He will then continue fundraising by taking part in the Rickshaw Run in India.

"When I told my dad that I was going to embark on this challenge, he was very humble about it," said Jack. "He thanked me and offered his support, whether physical or emotional.

"I know he will be there for me at the end with a big hug and that's all I need from him, really."

To see Jack's JustGiving page, visit: justgiving.com/fundraising/Jack-Roberts12

For more information, see www.goingthedistance.website