A GRANDFATHER has trekked through jungle and across mountains in Peru to raise money as a thank you for the hospital staff who cared for his granddaughter.

A GRANDFATHER has trekked through jungle and across mountains in Peru to raise money as a thank you for the hospital staff who cared for his granddaughter.

Bill Campbell, a retired insurance broker from Stowmarket, walked the Inca Trail in Peru as part of a charity fundraising trek for medical research charity Action Research.

He is also a keen Ipswich Town fan and made sure he was pictured during the trek in an Ipswich Town Football Club away jersey at the famous Sun Gate overlooking the Lost City of Machu Picchu, at the end of the Inca Trail in Peru.

Mr Campbell, 58, said: "The trail was 45 kilometres and took us four days and three nights over the Andean mountains reaching 14,000 feet, or 4,200 metres at the highest point called "Dead Woman's Pass.

"Of the 40 trekkers only one failed to complete the course due to altitude sickness, but nearly everyone suffered from either stomach upsets, sunstroke, dehydration, mosquito bites, blisters or general mild forms of altitude sickness, we even had a suspected case of deep vain thrombosis."

Mr Campbell's second granddaughter, Sophie, was born to her Claydon parents Greg and Tracey Campbell four weeks prematurely at Ipswich Hospital on November 30 2001, weighing 3lb 6oz.

She was taken straight to the special care baby unit where she spent 17 days before being eventually discharged just before Christmas.

Mr Campbell said: "It was harder than I thought, but a great adventure and a fantastic experience. It was an unbelievable, lovely country, great people and good cause.''

Mr Campbell has raised more than £4,000 and will continue fundraising until the end of January.

If you would like to give money towards Mr Campbell's fundraising efforts you can sponsor him securely online at www.action.org.uk or call 01449 678528.