Direct Taxis, form Exmouth, is gearing up to raise funds for the Children’s Hospice South West when owner, Tony Quinn, and two staff scale Mount Snowdon

A taxi firm from Exmouth, which has raised thousands of pounds for a cancer charity, is to tackle Mount Snowdon in aid of the Children’s Hospice South West.

Next month, Direct Taxis’ owner Tony Quinn, 43, of Colleton Way, manager Les Carde, 43, of The Green, and driver Nick ‘Beany’ Bleasdale, 43, of Rolle Street, will scale more than 3,000 feet of mountain in a bid to raise at least �1,000 for the hospice, writes Becca Gliddon.

Before the group sets off in June, the taxi firm will be out in force along the seafront and in the town with collecting buckets to further boost funds.

The trio can also be sponsored for their efforts.

The taxi firm said, if this year’s challenge proved a success, next year they would return to the summit with a larger party.

The trio of taxi drivers said they are unsure of what to expect when they set off on June 16. They plan to erect a large flag once they reach the summit – which could take more than six hours to walk.

The group is funding the entire trip to ensure all the money raised goes to the charity.

Manager Mr Carde, who has been with the firm for nine years, said: “I am most looking forward to the satisfaction of doing it and handing over the money we raise.”

Direct Taxi owners Nicola and Tony Quinn plan to hand over the cash raised from the challenge when the children’s hospice, at Little Bridge House, Fremington, holds an open day in July.

In the last two years, Direct Taxis has raised more than �8,000 for Cancer Research UK after holding sponsored seafront fancy dress walks and darts tournaments.