A HATHERLEIGH resident is among those taking on a really 'tough' challenge to show appreciation for the treatment of his granddaughter at Southampton's paediatric intensive care unit.

John Stangroom, along with his two sons Lee and Ben, son-in-law Stuart Knight, and their friends Craig Daniels, Jamie Harman and Anthony Zwodziak, are taking part in a Tough Mudder challenge on October 26. Tough Mudder challenges are mud run obstacle courses over a ten to 12 mile stretch designed by members of the armed forces to be as challenging and testing as possible.

The team is raising money to support Friends of PICU, which raises funds for the children's intensive care unit at Southampton General Hospital. Lee's daughter Erin, now 18 months old, has a rare congenital heart defect called hypoplastic left heart syndrome, meaning she was born with only half a heart.

At just four days old, she underwent her first open heart surgery, and has spent two further periods of recovery in the PICU after her second open heart surgery and subsequent bone infection.

Now the lads are taking on their muddy challenge to show their support for the unit.

John said: 'As the name suggests, it'll be tough. It will be made more difficult for me because I had a knee replacement back in January! But I've been doing lots of power walking and started jogging, and hopefully we can all get it done.'