Darren and Bryn prepare to set off for the final peak of their 2009 challenge, Pen y Fan

Two men who this year climbed more than the height of Everest in a charity effort to summit ten British mountain peaks have set themselves a new charity challenge.

Darren Edwards and Bryn Posey will next year attempt a 877km (545-mile) bike ride – both on- and off-road – along with three marathon length runs in eight or nine days. Their 2009 UK Everest Challenge raised more than £4,000 which will be split between four charities.

Both men are still nursing injuries after the ‘run, hike and crawl’ over some of Britain’s top mountains, including Ben Nevis, Ben Macdui, Ben Lomond, Skiddaw, Scafell Pike, Helvellyn, the Old Man of Coniston, Snowdon, Cadair Idris and Pen y Fan.

Darren said: “Bryn has now had his operation on his left knee, which will probably see him on crutches until mid January. He compressed and fragmented the cartilage in a fall in the wet on Ben Nevis – on day one. How on earth he managed another 80 km (50 miles) on that damaged knee I will never know; that’s an ex-Royal Marine for you.”

Darren himself has undergone x-ray and MRI scans for his injuries, but is on the road to recovery, cycling and running and looking for a return to full fitness in the New Year.

The cash, £4,320 will be handed over in January to Children with Leukaemia; the National Association for Colitis and Crohn’s Disease; Skill Force and Help for Heroes. The pair, aided by their supporters, had hoped to raise £8,848 – a pound for every metre of Everest’s height – but are pleased with the amount collected, including an eBay auction of surplus gear and donated goods.

The new charity will be called endurance4charity and its website should be live from 1 January.