A young police officer from Linthwaite has been praised for his superhuman fundraising efforts.

He used them to support the father of a murdered woman colleague.

After completing a night shift in Nottinghamshire and grabbing just an hour’s sleep, Christopher Tooley travelled back to help a team of dedicated volunteers conquer the gruelling 168 steps near Butterley Reservoir in Marsden.

Christopher, 29, and the others raced up and down the steep flight 25 times in each direction.

It was part of a special sponsorship challenge to the memory of Greater Manchester Police officer Pc Nicola Hughes, who had studied at the University of Huddersfield, who was murdered with another woman officer, Pc Fiona Bone, in a gun attack last year.

Since the tragedy, Nicola’s father Bryn, has focused on raising cash to compete in the legendary North Pole Marathon in April next year.

The marathon is run entirely on ice between six and 12 foot deep above 12,000 feet of Arctic Ocean at the top of the world.

As part of their rigorous training regime, he and his fellow runners regularly tackle the Marsden flight alongside Butterley reservoir in their bid to increase their fitness and stamina for the race, which will take place in temperatures ranging from minus 20 degrees C to 37 degrees C.

They decided to turn one of their training sessions into a fund-raiser and Christopher enthusiastically volunteered to join them.

The arduous task meant he and the other 25 volunteers had covered a distance equivalent to 2.5 times the height of New York’s Empire State Building.

Pc Nicola Hughes
Pc Nicola Hughes

He said: “It was a call to action worth making.

“I only had about an hour’s sleep at the end of my night shift before I set off to drive to Marsden.

“But I was completely lifted by Bryn’s dedication and that of the other fundraisers who had turned out to support this magnificent cause.”

Christopher’s partner, Amanda Carr, a district nurse, who is expecting their first child, said: “I am very proud of him. It was a fabulous effort –particularly when he’d had so little sleep.”

In all, the event raised more than £1,300 to support the April marathon challenge and Bryn said: “I am deeply touched and humbled so many people gave up their time to take part in the challenge.”

His daughter studied social sciences at the University of Huddersfield before she joined Greater Manchester Police.

She and Pc Bone were murdered by gangster Dale Cregan after attending what appeared to be a routine burglary call in Manchester.

The charities that will benefit from The Pc Nicola Hughes North Pole Marathon are: Victim Support, COPS (Care of police survivors), and the North West Police Benevolent Fund.

Email northpolerun@btinternet.com for details.