CLIMBING a hill on foot can be a challenge for most people. But for motor neurone disease sufferer Paul Wilkinson, as if climbing a hill in his wheelchair wasn’t tough enough he went one step further yesterday when he climbed Victoria Hill in his wheelchair, backwards.

Paul, 65, of Moredon, pledged to complete the challenge and donate £1,000 to the family of Alycia Ellis.

Cerebral palsy sufferer Alycia, six, of Abbey Meads, needs £50,000 so she can have an operation in America to enable her to walk.

At the moment, she cannot stand or walk independently.

Yesterday, Paul completed the challenge in one hour 15 minutes and was greeted by Alycia and her family outside the Adver offices, while her parents Natasha and Christopher accompanied him on his climb.

Speaking after the climb, Paul said: “I feel uniquely wonderful as I have climbed my first hill backwards and without stopping .”

Natasha said: “I think we probably collected about £150 on the way up which is amazing.”