A well-known face around Oldham who has raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for charity is preparing to embark on his biggest challenge yet - a month of marathons.

Steve Hill MBE, the deputy head at St Joseph's RC Primary School in Shaw and the founder of the Team Hill Charitable Trust, is jetting out to Costa Rica in just over a week's time, on July 31, in preparation for his first of 14 marathons throughout August.

The extreme challenge will see Steve tackle seven marathons in the Western hemisphere, where he will run coast to coast through the jungles of Costa Rica, before taking on the remaining seven in the eastern hemisphere where he will run along the Silk Road in Tajikistan. 

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Steve, who is far from shy from taking on extreme challenges and marathons for charity, has travelled all around the world, has written a book about his experiences and even met the late Queen Elizabeth II where he "made her laugh" when he received his MBE.

While he said he is "pretty familiar" with the "brutal" jungle environment, it will be his first time ever visiting Costa Rica - and Tajikistan which he said will be different but equally as tough with a hot, dry environment at 3,000 metres of altitude. 

The challenge comes as Steve only recently returned from a "magical" trip to Uganda, where he visited the district of Masaka to see how the Team Hill Trust has been helping a local school and medical centre. 

Steve also said his class at school are planning on giving him a "great send-off" on their last day of school on Friday (July 21).

The children have even been writing Steve motivational letters and giving him "lucky mascots" to take on his expeditions this summer.

Steve said: "The send-off from the kids will be on our last day in school on Friday - then it's all systems go.

"I'm starting to get excited and a little nervous now as it's all getting very real.

"I'm very much looking forward to the challenges that lie ahead and feel in good shape and fully prepared.

"Bring it on."

The deputy headteacher will return from Tajikistan on August 31, giving him just a few days to recover before school resumes again on September 4.

Donations can still be made the Team Hill Trust on Steve's JustGiving page, which can be visited here: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/steve-hill-7 

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