OTLEY Rugby Union Football Club player Simon Willet, 34, has set himself a mountainous task as he bids to raise funds for his pal Doddie Weir and rugby league star Rob Burrow.

The 49-year-old former Scotland lock Weir and Leeds Rhinos and Great Britain star Burrow, who is just 37, are both battling motor neurone disease.

Otley lock Willet and five friends are aiming to scale the three highest peaks in the United Kingdom - Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowden - within 24 hours in May.

Helping Willet are Otley clubmates Tom O’Donnell, Jon Stannard and Michael Philpott, plus Callum Radcliffe and Sam Batty.

Willet said: “We hope to raise £2,000, which will be split between MyName’5 Doddie Foundation and Leeds Rugby Foundation’s fund for Rob Burrow. We will also be having a charity dinner on Saturday, April 11, at Pavilions of Harrogate at the Great Yorkshire Showground.”