A BARRHEAD dad was travelling the globe in his attempt to complete a special challenge back in 2009.

Over a six-month period, Thomas Wilson aimed to complete the Three Peaks Challenge, run two marathons and climb Africa’s highest mountain, Kilimanjaro.

The dad-of-two was taking on the gruelling challenge to raise funds for Diabetes UK, as his son had suffered from the disease since the age of six. 

First up was the Three Peaks Challenge, which involved climbing the highest mountains in Scotland, Wales and England – Ben Nevis, Mount Snowdon and Scafell Pike.

That also gave Thomas some preparation for his six-day trek of Kilimanjaro.

Long-distance runs, including the Edinburgh Marathon, were another way for 55-year-old Thomas to build up his fitness as his fundraising efforts went from strength to strength. 

At the time, he told the Barrhead News: “The Three Peaks Challenge has been done before – it is a regular challenge for some people but it will be very demanding, as you can imagine. 

“I am doing it as an extreme way of training for the climb in Africa, which will be about 20,000 feet.”

Thomas had been a longstanding supporter of Diabetes UK.

He said: “If I can hit the targets that I have set in each of the last two years, that would be brilliant.

“This is the biggest challenge I have ever done in a year. It will be really tough but I am certainly earning my sponsorship. 

“It will be a really big ask to do it all in a six-month period but I am determined I will.”