A FIREFIGHTER has raised more than £3,000 for charity after taking on a series of challenges.

Donal McCloskey, who is based at Hove station, aiming to raise as much money as possible for Rockinghorse.

The charity is the official fundraising arm of the Royal Alexandra Children's Hospital in Brighton and also supports specialist intensive care baby units in the neighbouring Royal Sussex County Hospital and Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath.

Mr McCloskey kicked off his fundraising back in April by taking part in a ‘vertical rush’ challenge at London’s Tower 42 skyscraper.

He ran up the 42 flights of stairs three times while wearing his full firefighter suit with air cylinders.

A week later he ran the Brighton Marathon.

In May, Mr McCloskey cycled solo from Land’s End to John O’Groats, completing the feat in just nine days.

He finished off his series of fundraising challenges by kayaking from Brighton’s Palace Pier to Eastbourne Pier at the beginning of June.

Mr McCloskey was inspired to raise funds for Rockinghorse following the birth of his best friends’ son, Aiden Fallows, who was born premature in December and was immediately transferred to the Trevor Mann unit in Brighton.

Mr McCloskey, Aiden and his mum Stef Fallows were joined by staff from Rockinghorse and the Royal Alex for the official handover of the money.

Mrs Fallows said: “Donal has been simply amazing and Aiden’s dad Scott and I have been overwhelmed throughout.”

The funds raised will be used to buy an optiflow machine for the unit, which provides extra oxygen for children.

For more information about the charity and the work it does to support sick children in Sussex, visit rockinghorse.org.uk