A LONG-serving member of the Haydock Male Voice Choir will be exercising his legs rather than his lungs when he takes part in a gruelling expedition to scale Mont Blanc, one of the world's highest mountains, later this month.

Denis Greenall, a police sergeant serving in Wigan, is organising the sponsored venture for himself and six friends after hearing of the plight of Billinge Hospital's Special Baby Care Unit which is threatened with closure due to lack of funding.

Although a seasoned walker and climber, this is the hardest task ever faced by Denis and the rest of the team and they have already been in training for weeks to get in shape for the arduous climb up the Alps later this month.

Denis told the Star: "It won't be easy but the Special Care Baby Unit at Billinge has been an invaluable service to local residents for years and even helped some of the children of the climbers in the past. It would certainly be missed if it had to close."

The team, consisting of six policemen and a paramedic from Billinge Hospital, are now collecting sponsors for the trip and are hoping to reach somewhere in the region of £5,000. Anyone who wants to donate money can contact Denis at Wigan Police Station on 0161 856 7422.

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