WALK 70 MILES OVER MOUNTAINS WITH A FRIDGE ON MY BACK?

Ex-commando finishes 'idiot' challenge, spurred on by the memory and words of his late wife

- By ANDREW FORGRAVE Countryside and Tourism Editor [e-mail]

A MAN has slogged 70 miles over the mountains of Denbighshire with a 90lb fridge-freezer on his back.

Former Royal Marine commando Matt Jones took on the "idiot" challenge to honour a bet made with his late wife.

En route he walked the 35-mile Llangollen Round, an event held every three years that climbs more than 7,500ft through the Dee Valley. Unlike other participants, he did it twice, completing the trek in 34 hours.

Driving him on were the words of his wife Vicky, who died just before Christmas.

He said: "I had to go deeper than ever before and take myself back to commando training 23 years ago. My whole body was screaming, and I hit breaking point early on after a fuelling error.

"In the toughest moments, it was Vicky's voice telling me, 'You've got this, be you."

As Vicky had been a passionate supporter of Hope House Ty Gobaith children's hospices, which have bases in Oswestry and Conwy, Matt launched a tribute fund in her memory.