Adventurer Steve is Borneo bound...

...so his pupils get into fund-raising mode
HE has conquered snow-capped mountains and the searing heat of the Sahara, and even battled sub-zero temperatures driving sled-dogs across the barren Arctic.

Next the tropical rainforests of Borneo beckon adventurous teacher Steve Hill.

The deputy head of St Joseph’s primary school in Shaw has announced this year’s annual challenge, which will also see him climb Mount Kinabalu, the highest mountain in South-East Asia (13,435ft).

His Year Six pupils are once again behind him as they embark on their own challenge, to raise money for good causes during the school year.

Their latest effort was a charity car wash with the help of Green Watch from Oldham fire station.

Mr Hill (41) tackles a massive personal challenge each year to show his pupils that, with drive and hard work, nothing is beyond their capabilities.

His sponsored feats, added to cash raised by his pupils, have made £30,000 for good causes.

Mr Hill explained: “We will trek for 12 days through the hot, humid, dense jungle, making camp each evening among the jungle trees.

“We will then spend two days climbing Mount Kinabalu. Having tackled the mountains, the deserts and the Arctic through my past challenges, the only environment remaining was the jungle.”

This year his class has chosen four causes to support: Cancer Research UK, fellow-pupil Shane Keating, who has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, CAFOD, to support the building of a well in an African village, and PKD UK (polysystic kidney disease) in support of local pair Liz Whitworth and Mark Holden. Mark received a transplant after Liz donated a kidney.

Anyone who wants to make a donation can do so at the website www.justgiving.com/Stephen-Hill9.