When student Daniel O’Donnell puts on his pyjamas this summer it will herald not rest but a series of gruelling challenges.

The 21-year-old from Bournemouth is getting on his bike to cycle the length of the UK, climb the Three Peaks and tackle Africa’s highest mountain – all in his sleepwear.

And he is undertaking these extreme challenges to raise funds for the Julia’s House Pyjama Appeal, to open the Corfe Mullen children’s hospice overnight.

“I have always wanted to do these sort of challenges, especially the ones closest to home, the cycle and Three Peaks,” he said.

The sports studies student at Southampton Solent University decided to add Kilimanjaro, having seen the antics of celebrities climbing it for Comic Relief.

He plans to set off from home on June 23 and spend 18 days cycling the 1,200-1,300 miles from Lands End to John O’Groats, stopping off to climb Snowdon, Ben Nevis and Scafell Pike on the way.

Then having practised on the 1,000 metre peaks, after a few weeks recovery he is off to Tanzania on August 25, to tackle 5,895 metre Kilimanjaro.

He hopes to raise around £5,000 from his efforts.

“I may be taking it to the extreme, but I can’t think of a better way to raise funds for a service that will help and improve so many lives,” he said.

Dan is looking forward to the challenge and to helping a local charity concerned with children, having worked with youngsters coaching sports.

The Daily Echo backed Pyjama Appeal aims to raise £400,000 to run the overnight service for a year.

To find out more about Dan’s challenge or to sponsor him log on to challengemandan.wordpress.com. For information about the appeal visit pyjamaappeal.co.uk.