When Pete Johnson from Ross-on-Wye, signed up for a fundraising abseil at Eastnor Castle, he never thought his weight would be the biggest barrier.

But Pete, who is head of commercial enterprise at National Star, discovered he was “too big” to fit through the castle hatch which is 50cm by 50cm.

Not to be deterred the 48-year-old has decided to lose two stone in less than 10 weeks.

“The flaw in my cunning plan is I am too much of a porker and well over the weight limit,” said Pete. “So, the double whammy in my challenge is to lose the two stone I need to between now and September with the aim to keep going to a healthy weight.”

He is raising money for National Star which transforms the lives of young people with complex disabilities and learning difficulties.

Weighing in at 20 stone, Pete joined Slimming World. In three weeks he has lost 15lbs.

“I told my doctor that I had a very healthy diet but I also had a more unhealthy diet on top,” said Pete.

The abseil and the weight loss are just two of the things Pete, who lives in Ross-on-Wye, has planned for the next year.

“Next year I turn 50 and I want to be fit at 50. Even after the abseil I plan to keep on the diet as my target is 13.5 stone,” said Pete, who is married with one daughter, aged 14.

National Star Hereford was launched three years ago and is based in Harrow Road. It provides specialist further education for young people, including work experience and relevant therapies such as physiotherapy, speech and language therapy and occupational therapy.

The abseil costs £20 to register for the abseil and the minimum sponsorship is £100. You can sign up at:www.nationalstar.org/abseil.

Pete is aiming to raise £400 and can be sponsored at https://cando.everydayhero.com/uk/porps

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