A BRIDGWATER Co-op worker has raised over £4,500 for charity by climbing a mountain in Morocco less than six months on from a depression diagnosis.

Lee Gale, 31, stepped up to the challenge in support of a partnership between the supermarket and children’s charity Barnardo’s.

The two organisations are aiming to raise £5 million in total, which will help support the positive futures of 750,000 young people across the UK.

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Mr Gale was initially presented with a fundraising target of £1,500.

The warehouse shift manager said: "It felt massive.

"The first feeling was sheer panic.

"Wimbledon was on, and I made cookies that looked like tennis balls and sold them for 50p each.

"I hardly made any money, and I remember thinking – this is going to be hard.”

However, he shared that his diagnosis and subsequent therapy sessions acted as a catalyst, inspiring him to raise as much as he could to help struggling young people.

"It made me want to do everything I can to help young people with their mental wellbeing, which is one of the things that Barnardo’s and Co-op are trying to do through this partnership," Lee said.

In preparation of the challenge, Mr Gale woke up at 5am each morning to walk across the Mendip Hills.

"The training itself was an opportunity for me to improve my mental health.

"Getting out in nature, exercising – it all helped me through that tough time."

After three days of climbing alongside his colleagues, Mr Gale reached the top of Mount Toubkal – a daunting 4,176m above sea level.

He recalled the experience as the "hardest and most rewarding thing I’ve ever done".

His efforts raised more than £4,500.

Louise Meadows, senior relationship manager for the Co-op partnership at Barnardo’s, said: "We are deeply grateful to Lee for his extraordinary fundraising efforts, which will help us support more children and young people across the UK.

"These are challenging times for young people, with just 62 per cent of young people saying that they feel positive about the future."

David Luckin, head of community partnerships, funding and impact at Co-op, said: "None of that would be possible without our incredible Co-op colleagues hosting fundraising events, taking part in epic challenges like Lee, or our colleagues, members and customers making donations to the partnership – helping us raise £2.5m so far, halfway to our target.”