Mayflower Theatre worker Alastair Churton knows how to put on a winning performance of human endurance when it comes to raising funds to benefit local theatre-goers.

The Southampton venue's Stage Door Supervisor recently completed the Yorkshire Three Peak Challenge, raising over £1,000 to fund access improvements in the theatre.

Alastair completed the challenge, trekking 28.3 miles and climbing over 5,000ft up Yorkshire’s three highest peaks in just 12 hours.

This achievement is all the more impressive as Alastair suffers with a rare muscle condition, Myotonia Congenita, a disability that prohibits his skeletal muscles from relaxing after contraction and hinders his movement.

Alastair said: “My condition has always been, and is, a massive challenge for me in my day-to-day life. Theatre was for me, when I was younger, an outlet I benefitted from enormously, it helped me become a more confident individual and importantly helped me accept in myself, my disability. I feel so proud I've been able to do this in aid of improving access at Mayflower Theatre and for whom it will benefit.”

In summer 2018 Mayflower Theatre will be undergoing a £3.94 million auditorium refurbishment. Plans include repainting the whole of the auditorium, moving the pit further under the stage and installing brand new seating in the Stalls and Circle.

So far the theatre has secured £2.91 million towards the cost of the project, but as a charitable trust which receives no direct public subsidy it needs help to raise the remaining £1.03 million.

The money that Alastair has raised will fund vital access improvements undertaken as part of the refurbishment, including installing additional and varying wheelchair positions, improving wheelchair access throughout, adding transfer arms onto selected aisle seats and fitting row-end loop rails in the Circle area.

This work will mean a new lease of life for the theatre; improving the audience experience and ensuring that more people are able to engage with the Arts in our region.

If you would like to sponsor Alastair, there’s still time, please visit his JustGiving page: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/churtonchallenge To find out more about Mayflower Theatre’s upcoming refurbishment, please visit: https://www.mayflower.org.uk/support-us/mayflower-90/