OVER 3000m was covered by a hiker in a bid to raise funds for a charity close to his heart.

Jamie Donnelly, of Holywell, challenged himself to climb the Nadelhorn mountain, the highest point on the Nadelgrat in the Pennine Alps, Switzerland.

The experienced climber set off from the village of Saas Fee earlier this month, before making his way up to Hannig, at an elevation of 2336m.

He then set off on the gruelling expedition in dubious conditions - but the fundraiser said he was "really motivated" with the Teddy Bear Children Support charity in mind.

He said: "When I set off on the expedition, the weather conditions were not particularly perfect. There was thick mist preventing me from viewing at a distance of about 20m in front of me.

"I began hiking alone along a path which is directed towards the Mischabel Hut, and from the beginning of my expedition the path quickly began to get steeper and steeper, zig-zagging up the mountain resulting in the hike becoming more challenging."

Jamie then had to strap his poles to his backpack as the hike turned into more of a climb, clinging onto rocks at a 70 degree angle. The thrill-seeker did not have a rope or harness, and was carrying around 10kg in his backpack throughout the trip.

The health and fitness instructor said he constantly had to keep up his adrenalin levels and body temperature up, as stopping for a short moment could result in stiff and painful muscles.

He said: "I had to climb up zig-zagging rocks with steep drops of over 1000m below. The terrain I was climbing on was quite damp, plus I was constantly surrounded by mist which resulted in contributing as a stress factor."

"It also prevented me from seeing the beautiful views around me, which can help make the climb much more enjoyable and pleasant. The mist also made the rocks more slippery at times, but despite this situation I was in, I still enjoyed the climb. But the risk factors did result in the climb being a little bit perilous at times."

Jamie said his positive mental attitude and focus also helped him through the climb, and the Holywell man even persisted when disaster struck on day two.

After a bad night's sleep due to the altitude in the Mischabel Hut at 3340m, the next morning Jamie's climbing companion who he met up with to climb the next leg of the expedition told him he was ill and unable to climb.

Jamie said: "No on in the world goes to the glacier alone. It is forbidden as it's too dangerous for many reasons. If you are not roped up to a climbing companion with your harness on and you slip you can fall down a crevasse."

On hearing this news Jamie felt very disappointed so, tried to come up with alternative arrangements. But after careful thinking and consideration and with a "little support from close friends," he decided that the only alternative was to end the expedition at the hut and wave the Teddy Bear Children's flag from from around 1000m below the summit.

He said: "I feel like I really extended myself as I climbed in the mist alone. The fact I didn't go to the summit makes me more determined to do it alone. I'm going to make it up there next time. It's not failure, it's a learning point."

Jamie said raising funds for the charity, which provides funds for the small children's charities that find it difficult to raise funds for themselves, was definitely worth it, and will tackle more climbs to top up the £5,000 he has already raised for the organisation.