Officers to take on Three Peaks in full riot gear

(From left) Adam Bayliss, Tom Bringhurst, Josh Hunter and Andrew Sinclair will take on the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge alongside their colleague Bryan McCoy

Five police officers will take on the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge wearing riot clothing to raise money for a rare cancer charity.

The officers, who work for South Yorkshire Police in Sheffield, have already surpassed their £1,000 target ahead of the 24-mile (38km) hike on 4 September.

They are raising money for AMMF, which claims to be the first charity in the world dedicated solely to funding research into a rare form of bile duct cancer, cholangiocarcinoma.

The challenge was organised by response Sgt Josh Hunter, 33, whose mum Julie died from the disease in September 2021. He said she would be "really proud" of his efforts.

The NHS has described bile duct cancer as a "rare but aggressive type of cancer".

According to the AMMF, "over recent years an enormous and extremely worrying worldwide increase in cholangiocarcinoma’s incidence has been noted".

Mr Hunter's dad Stephen and brother Alex have previously raised more than £12,000 for the charity between them by taking on challenges of their own.

In 2022, Alex swam the length of Lake Windermere, an 11-mile (17km) distance, while Stephen cycled from Land's End to John o' Groats last year.

After being inspired by their efforts, Mr Hunter, a dad-of-three from Harthill, decided to take on the Three Peaks Challenge, which consists of climbing Pen-y-Ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough.

However, it was "not enough of a challenge to do it normally," he said.

"I have somehow managed to rope four others into it as well."

Mr Hunter will be joined in the challenge by PC's Adam Bayliss, Tom Bringhurst and Andrew Sinclair, as well as Bryan McCoy from the force's Tactical Support Group.

The officers will each be wearing an estimated 20kg worth of clothing, including body padding, a boiler suit, a stab vest and a helmet.

Due to the recent civil unrest across the UK, including in South Yorkshire, they have been unable to fit in any training.

Riot police have been deployed at locations across the UK, including in South Yorkshire, following civil unrest

"We have been put on 12-hour shifts, our rest days have been cancelled because of all the violent disorder that's been going on," said Mr Hunter, who joined the force seven years ago.

"We have had to wear the kit when it's been 20-odd degrees. That's put me off!"

Despite the lack of training, Mr Hunter said there would be no backing out, "especially when we have managed to raise just over £1,000".

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