FUNDRAISING fireman Steve Stidolph is getting wheely close now to his £10,000 target.

Steve organised a 12-hour spinning marathon at Taro Leisure Centre in Petersfield to help him towards the mammoth amount by the end of the year.

Supporters had a go at spinning on static cycles, and bought ‘gym hunk’ calendars and cakes, raising £1,500 from the event. “It was amazing, really amazing and a lot of fun,” he said.

At the start of 2015, he set himself the goal to raise the cash for school building projects in Gambia, with £8,500 now in the bag. “I have three weeks until I go out there again so I will be going crazy on the fundraising until then,” said Steve.

A fitness instructor at the Taro gym, as well a fire officer at the Petersfield station, he has put on various health-related events through the year including a 28-day fitness challenge with friends in February, a 12-hour ladder climb in The Square during Petersfield’s summer festival, and another spinning session. Keen to give something back to the community during his fundraising, he has also led fitness boot camps. Steve is confident he will hit the target before heading in December to the African village he has visited several times before. To buy a £10 calendar, contact Steve on 07894 090819.

Steve is pictured second from right, with supporters.