CHRIS Penny is no stranger to challenges so his campaign to build a multi-million pound centre for profoundly disabled people should come as no surprise.

The Evesham father of two hit the headlines more than two years ago when he carried his disabled daughter Hannah up the Three Peaks of Great Britain over three consecutive days. Chris raised more than £20,000 for Leukaemia Research in memory of his late wife who died of the disease just three months previously.

Now the former teacher is preparing to don his walking boots once more to climb Morocco's Mount Toubkal in May with Hannah on his back and eldest daughter Fran by his side. As well as raising money for the appeal, Chris hopes the feat will highlight the need for improved care for disabled adults once they leave the education system.

Chris said: "I feel very strongly about disabled achievement - my daughter cannot walk or talk but she loves the outdoor life and has been all over the world. Profoundly disabled people are a profoundly forgotten group in our society. While they are of school age there are facilities for them but when they get to 19 there really is very little out there.

"We are trying to do something about the lack of facilities and ultimately create a home in this area that these people can call a home for life. There is no reason why Hannah should not live to a good age but how fulfilling that life will be depends what we can mange to do."

Chris was spurred into action after visiting The Martha Trust in Hereford, a residential care home set up by parents of a disabled child. He has teamed with another set of parents whose disabled 19-year-old son Thomas is already confined to a hospital ward. Together they have launched the Thomas-Hannah Appeal.

Chris said: "The Martha Trust is everything we would want for Hannah and we were very impressed by it. It is not just a care home - it also has a therapy centre, which includes a hydrotherapy pool and an aromatherapy room. I would leave my daughter there tomorrow because the home provides a quality of life all these kids should have."

But the Martha's Trust has a long waiting list for only 14 places because as Chris puts it: "It is a home for life which is the point but also the problem."

Now Chris, on behalf of the Thomas-Hannah Appeal, is embarking on the huge project of building a similar facility for this area. He estimated the centre would cost around £3million and take three years to build so organisers are already looking into grants and funds they are eligible to apply for.

Chris said: "At the moment we are letting as many people know what we are doing and we are also looking for business sponsorship. It is a major, major project but we know it has been done and once it is up and running it will be self-financing."

"There should be one of these homes in every county in the country. None of us asked to have children like Hannah but we want to do all we can.

"There is a real fear that when our sort of kids leave school there is nothing for them. I am doing all I can to secure Hannah's future because unless someone does something who knows what will happen."

There is no doubt the Thomas-Hannah Appeal is an ambitious project but Chris remains positive: "We all know it won't be easy but we are looking forward to it and I am determined to do it - big time."

Anyone interested in supporting the appeal can contact Chris Penny on 01386 45757 or email him on Chris92Runner@aol.com.