Hammock hero: Teenager nets £1,400 for charity

A teenager from Suffolk has raised more than £1,300 pounds for charity after spending a year sleeping in a hammock in his back garden.

Rob Challinor, 14, from Exning near Newmarket has spent 365 days sleeping outside in sub zero temperatures to raise money for the MAGPAS emergency charity.

Medics from the organisation saved the life of Rob's sister when she had a horse riding accident.

Six years ago, Rob’s sister, Kelly-Ann, had her face flattened in a horrific horse-riding accident, doctors warned she might die, or suffer severe brain damage.

But thanks to the efforts of Magpas her life was saved and she made a full recovery.

Rob said: “Magpas - The Emergency Medical Charity saved my sister’s life and now I want to help them”.

Rob set himself a yearlong challenge to sleep in a hammock

After a couple of months rehearsal, Rob has been sleeping under the stars since August 30th 2011.

The real test was during the continuous rain and the harsh weather earlier this year, but he’s stayed true to his word - despite sub-zero temperatures, strong winds, snow and freezing rain.

Rob was aiming to raise at least £1 a night for Magpas and the Child Brain Injury Trust, but more than £1,452.00 has been donated so far.

Rob says he now actually prefers his present sleeping arrangements to a normal bed. He says he’s been as warm as toast tucked up in his duvet, accompanied by his dog Duke.

As a reward for his efforts the youngster even got to meet his idol, TV explorer and survival expert Ray Mears.