WHILE the rest of Malvern will be nursing a hangover, on New Year's Day pensioner Chris Green will be striding across the hills to raise money for charity.

The 71-year-old grandfather hopes to get from the Clock Tower to Chase End Hill and back, between sunrise and sunset, to raise money for Active Training and Education (ATE).

Mr Green is the founder of ATE, formerly Colony Holidays, which has provided some 80,000 children with residential holidays since the 1960s.

The charity is run by volunteers and prides itself on being able to offer cut-price holidays that everyone can afford.

The mission statement for ATE is to bring together children from all walks of life for a week of fun games and challenges away from home, with people they would not normally meet.

"We take all the labels away," said Mr Green. "Children from all different parts of the country and different backgrounds just play together. It does an awful lot for their self confidence and they see life from a different perspective."

ATE is hoping to raise £100,000 by Easter 2007 to buy its own headquarters in Malvern, as it currently has to rent. So far, it has £15,000 and Mr Green is hoping to boost this by up to £20,000 with his walk.

Volunteers who work for ATE are also holding fundraising events across the country.

Mr Green said: "They are all keen to see ATE settled in its own residential headquarters, able to welcome lots of groups to the wonderful area where we are lucky enough to live."

Once it has raised a significant amount itself, ATE will approach local businesses and grant-giving bodies to try to secure the rest of the funds.

To sponsor Mr Green, send a cheque to ATE, 8 St Anne's Road, Malvern, WR14 4RG or visit www.justgiving.com/ate.