'I'm gobsmacked to be nominated'

Steve Hill

A DARING deputy head teacher who is heading to the Sahara desert for his latest fundraising challenge has been nominated for a Pride in Oldham award.

Steve Hill MBE, who also teaches Year 6 at St Joseph's RC Primary in Shaw, has raised thousands of pounds for charity over the years through a series of gruelling adventures.

From climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, Mont Blanc and Mount Elbrus, to trekking through jungles and completing the Mount Everest Marathon, Mr Hill has been on a mission to motivate his students as well as raise much-needed money in the process.

In April 2015, the 44-year-old completed one of his biggest challenges to date - taking part in the North Pole Marathon in temperatures of minus 60 degrees.

That very same year, he was awarded an MBE from the Queen at Buckingham Palace for services to education and charity.

Now the inspirational teacher is in training to take part in his latest adventure - the Marathon des Sables, an ultra marathon where competitors race the equivalent of six marathons in six days across the Sahara desert.

Diana Heywood, from Shaw, is a volunteer at Dr Kershaw's Hospice and decided to put pen to paper after being inspired by Mr Hill.

She said: "Steve has done so much fundraising for Dr Kershaw's Hospice and other charities, I'm so impressed.

"He is an inspiration to all and gives the pupils at St Joseph's a superb example of how to help others."

Mr Hill is no stranger to the Pride in Oldham awards having previously won the Reader's Choice category in 2005.

He said: "I'm gobsmacked to be nominated, it's lovely to have been put forward.

"I like taking part in the challenges because it's something that is going to inspire the children.

"It plants a bit of a seed and they start to think if sir can do it, then they can overcome difficulties as well."