THREE Newport men and a wheelbarrow full of cement will be ascending Mount Snowdon this Saturday for charity.

Dean Crighton, Craig Summerhill and Ian Moore will lug a sealed 22kg bag of builder's cement to the highest point in the British Isles outside Scotland.

The three friends are climbing the 1,085 metres - or 3,560 feet - on August 18 in aid of the National Autistic Society.

The whole enterprise started when 41-year-old Craig, an engineer with the Territorial Army from Ringland, announced he planned to climb the peak for charity, but pal Dean had other ideas."I had a brainwave to make it more interesting," said Dean, 39, a soldier in the Army medical corps.

"I set up a Facebook page called Craig Summerhill's Charity Wheelbarrow Up Snowdon, and Craig said 'I can't do that,' so I said, 'I'll do it with you.'"

Local electrician Ian, 39, heard about the endeavour and decided to join too. "My preparation for the climb has been to go up and down Twmbarlwm a few times," explained Caerleon man Dean.

"I don't think Ian has done anything, it's going to be a rude awakening for him!"

Dean's cousin has a child with autism, so it seemed a natural choice of charity.

"We hope to raise around £1,000, but whatever we raise is good," Dean added.

With more than £600 already donated via their JustGiving page, you can give to the cause at www.justgiving.com/dean-rattler

Other intrepid stunts up Snowdon

  • In 2004, a man carried a trombone to the summit where he played 'Climb Every Mountain' to a bemused audience.
  • In April 2007 three lads lugged an ironing board up the mountain.
  • In June 2008 a full size grand piano made its way to the top of Snowdon.
  • In July 2008, a trio of cellists played to surprised walkers as they climbed the peak. The group were raising money for Mountain Rescue and a spinal injuries charity.
  • Five men who worked for a shoe recycling company pushed a heavy tractor tyre to the top of Snowdon in October 2008 in aid of the Variety Club.
  • One of the climbers said said: "The weather turned dangerous near the top and we risked life and limb to get it there. Thinking back now we were all nuts."
  • A group of friends from Leicestershire did a karate class on Snowdon's summit in September 2009, raising cash for the Children's Liver Disease Foundation.
  • In 2011, Craig Williams from Gloucestershire drove his 4x4 up Snowdon because it was top on his list of "50 things to do before he dies".  He was charged with dangerous driving, which he denied, shortly before the Vauxhall Frontera was driven up the mountain for a second time. His trial was postponed until August this year.
  • Back in July, a stag party tackled Snowdon in their pyjamas. Dressed in only nightwear and trainers, the group walked up Wales' highest mountain in a "horrific" storm before having to be rescued.
  • Last weekend (SAT AUG 11), 25 staff and parishoners from Blackburn Cathedral hiked up Snowdon with a toy piano, which weighed just over seven pounds, raising £3.5m for a cathedral refurbishment. Musical director Samuel Hudson performed a repertoire on the summit.