ONE gymnast has taken his ability to new extremes for charity.

Aslan Steel is aiming to raise funds for a hospice in memory of his mum, Keetje Steel, who lost her battle with cancer in May. She spent time at St Peter and St James Hospice in North Chailey.

Between being diagnosed with cancer and her condition worsening, she was able to organise, participate in and support several charity fundraisers that in total raised £5,000 for the hospice.

Now, Mr Steel, 29, who was born in Brighton and lives in Ringmer near Lewes, has put his energy into matching that amount to bring the total to £10,000.

Last weekend he challenged himself to complete ten extreme gymnastic holds on ten different machines in just ten hours. Last Saturday, he hopped across Sussex, starting in East Grinstead before heading down to Brighton and nipping over the border to Portsmouth and ending up at the Top Gear test track for the finale at the Wings and Wheels Festival south of Guildford in Surrey.

With eight of the ten extreme holds taking place in Sussex, the total distance covered was 150 miles, allowing 30 minutes per machine to achieve the holds. Among the machines were a super car donated by the McLaren race team, a Royal Navy submarine and an RAF fighter jet.

On completing the challenge, Mr Steel said: “I’m overwhelmed with the support I had. It was truly amazing and went without a hitch, which is unbelievable considering the distance covered. I can’t put it into words.”

Mr Steel hopes to raise the remaining £2,500 to match his mum’s efforts.

He added: “The medical and care professionals who looked after my mother are special people and St Peter and St James Hospice relies on the community for 86% of its funding for future care.

“I am hoping that the money I raise will enable other families to receive the same great care as my mother.”

To donate, visit www.justgiving.com/aslansteel