Intrepid dad and daughter set world record in sights

Challenge: Anthony Longworth and daughter Ava, nine, from Chorley, are taking part in the Three Peaks Challenge, raising funds for Unicefw

Anthony Longworth, of Cowling Brow, Chorley, has already tackled a series of challenges, including climbing Mont Blanc and covering the Pennine Way, from Derbyshire to Scotland, 14 times.

Now he is planning his next adventure, which could see him break records with his daughter Ava.

The pair will be doing the three peaks challenge and want to break the time for a nine-year-old, which is currently 22 hours 13 minutes.

And a month earlier. Anthony will be doing the challenge himself in an attempt to break the solo record of 16 hours four minutes.

Anthony, 34, said: “I do adventures. I own my own bushcraft school and I was talking to Ava and I asked if she wanted to do a challenge.

“It was just going to be us doing it, but we decided to do it for charity and Ava picked Unicef. She wants children to have what she has.”

The pair decided to go for the records to make the challenge more exciting.

“There are a lot of people doing it every year and it’s probably a bit different to go for a record and will make it more competitive,” Anthony said. Anthony will be doing the solo challenge at the end of April, before joining Ava for the walk together on June 4.

They will climb the highest mountains in Scotland, England and Wales - Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and then Snowdon. Ava, a pupil at St James’ Primary School, is already training for the challenge with her dad and their border terrier puppy Bramble.

Anthony, who is married to Laura and has four other children, said: “We are training three times a week up in the hills. We are doing a lot of walking as well.”

To sponsor the pair, go to www.justgiving.com/DadandDaughter-Longworth.

They are also looking for donations to help them fund the equipment needed to take on the challenge and document it.

To help, go to www.crowdfunder.co.uk/user/dadanddaughter3peaks.