A GROUP of friends put their physical agility to the test and raised thousands of pounds for charity.

Scott Clarke, of Connah's Quay, took part in the Tough Mudder 2018 challenge along with eight of his friends and raised over £3,500 for Parkinson's UK and Wiedemann-Steiner Syndrome (WSS)

He said: "It was very good, hard work and very muddy and tiring but it was good in terms of team work and working together. It was fun and also important to raise that awareness and money at the same time, which we will split evenly between the two causes, which are both close to our hearts."

Scott's 10-year-old son, Lewis, was diagnosed with WSS about three years ago which is a rare genetic disorder affecting about 400 people worldwide and Paul Edwards, one of the members of the group, has recently been diagnosed with Parkinsons.

Lewis still struggles everyday with issues that affects his motor skills, sensory issues, development and educational needs and other long term-health problems.

Scott said the money for WSS will go towards starting a charity because there is currently nothing in the UK for those living with the condition.

He added: "It took us a while to find out what was wrong with him (Lewis) and we only found out because someone from Cambridge University was researching into it.

"It's quite a difficult thing to go through, some children are severely disabled from it and my son was very ill in and out of hospital. It's a bit like Jekyll and Hyde, one minute they will be okay and then the next they are having a meltdown.

"If we can get the awareness out there then we are doing a good thing."

Scott and his friends have been taking part in a different fundraising activity for the past three years in a bid to raise money for different charities, which he says they try to choose something that is close to their hearts and are already looking towards what they can do next year.