A GROUP of friends from EDF Energy’s Hinkley Point B power station near Bridgwater has raised more than £5,600 by scaling the three highest peaks in Scotland, England and Wales in just 24 hours.

The workmates tackled the Three Peaks Challenge, climbing Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon, in aid of local charity Elliot’s Touch.

The charity was set up in memory of Elliot Stevens, the toddler son of team member Paul Stevens, who lives in Watchet.

Elliot died at the age of just 13-months of mitochondrial disease and cardiomyopathy.

Cardiomyopathy affects the heart muscle, compromising the organ’s ability to pump blood around the body, while mitochondrial disease is a rare genetic condition which can affect any organ but which leaves cells unable to produce enough energy to work.

Paul was joined by eight colleagues from the station’s Workplace Solutions team to take part in the challenge.

“We completed the challenge in 23 hours and 40 minutes and would like to thank every single person who has donated to this fantastic charity,” said team member Andy Turnbull, of Combwich.

Paul and wife Donna set up Elliot’s Touch in 2015 to raise awareness of the diseases and to fund research into the conditions.

They recently presented a cheque for £36,000 to the Royal Brompton Hospital in London, to support the work of Dr Sanjay Prasad, an expert in cardiomyopathy.

Dr Prasad is working towards finding a simple and effective way to test for cardiomyopathy, so that children and adults with this condition can be diagnosed and treated earlier, or even avoid the need for medical intervention.

Peter Evans, Hinkley Point B station director, said: “Elliot’s Touch is a charity which is very close to our hearts here at Hinkley Point B.

“To date, staff and contract partners have raised over £20,000 for the charity.

“It is a huge achievement by Paul and Donna to have given £36,000 to the Royal Brompton Hospital in Elliot’s memory and I would like to congratulate both them and the Three Peaks team on their success.”

As well as Paul and Andy, the team included Matt Wheeler of Cannington, Mark Boobyer of Taunton, Andy Potter of Bridgwater, Gary Potter of Bishops Lydeard, Andy Bryan of Combwich and Jonathan Barker of Taunton.

The group was driven between the peaks by Watchet’s Kevin Hoyle.

Elliot’s Touch is run in conjunction with the Somerset Community Foundation and more information is available on the website www.elliotstouch.org.