GETTING his skis on for charity is Bury car salesman Andrew Eccles.

The 30-year-old action man, who works at a Bolton garage, is swapping four wheels for two skis to take part in one of the world's most gruelling marathons over snow.

He is planning to ski 24 Austrian peaks in just two days.

Andrew, sales manager at the Smith Knight Fay Audi centre hopes to raise £2,000 for Scope, the cerebal palsy charity.

Along with wife Diane and two friends, he's taking part in the legendary White Peaks Challenge - a series of daredevil ski runs against the clock down some of Austria's most testing slopes.

But former Bury Grammar School pupil Andrew is no stranger to high adventure or adversity.

As a teenager, he was an outstanding sportsman, winning Lancashire county double honours at rugby union and basketball.

His aim was to join the Army, but aged 18, Andrew broke his back on a night training exercise with the Territorials and was barely able to move for two years, six months of which were spent in a plaster body cast.

He recovered to forge a career in car sales.

Andrew said: "This is the ski challenge of a lifetime and for years I've been itching to have a try at it because it is one of the greatest tests of stamina."

He already has the promise of £2,000, including £500 from his bosses and a further £500 from Audi.

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