A HEADTEACHER who gave a kidney to her husband has spoken of her pride in her family as her three children prepare to take on the three peaks challenge.

Bryony Baynes gave a kidney to husband Matthew Baynes at the end of 2015 in a bid to end his 20-year struggle with chronic kidney disease.

The living donor transplant was a success but, in a bitter blow, Canon Baynes was diagnosed with stomach and oesophageal cancer just 18 months later.

He has been receiving chemotherapy treatment for the disease but Mrs Baynes, who is headteacher at Kempsey Primary School, said the treatment was not going as well as they had hoped.

The family also suffered a further blow when Mrs Baynes found out she needs an operation to rebuild her spine which is crumbling from osteoporosis.

The couple's three children - Bronwen, aged 27, Megan, aged 23, and David, aged 22, - decided to take on the Three Peaks Challenge to show their support.

The trio will be joined on the challenge by friends and churchgoers from the Bredon group of parishes where Canon Baynes, aged 55, is rector.

The group of around 25 will set off on Sunday, August 6 and hope to raise at least £5,000 for Cancer Research UK, Kidney Research UK and National Osteoporosis Society.

Mrs Baynes said: "This challenge was Bronwen's idea.

"We are hoping that Matthew will do a little bit of it.

"He won't be able to do all of it but we are hoping he will do a little bit.

"It's given them something to focus on."

Mrs Baynes said the group had been training hard for the challenge with the help of "remarkable" friend Ray Lane, who was organising the trip.

They plan to stay in youth hostels and Mrs Baynes will cook for the group.

She said: "When I think about what the kids are doing I realise that, whatever the future holds, Matthew and I have a great deal to be thankful for and proud of - those three amazing beings who, despite all the rubbish that has been hurled at us over recent months, still want to make something positive come out of it."

Anyone wishing to donate to the family's challenge can visit virginmoneygiving.com/threebaynesthreepeaks