1 June 2011 Last updated at 11:07

Michael Vaughan treks Great Wall of China for charity

South Yorkshire cricketer Michael Vaughan retired from the game in August 2008

A former England cricket captain is hoping to raise a quarter of a million pounds for charity by treking along the Great Wall of China.

Michael Vaughan, who has also played for South Yorkshire, is raising money for the Sheffield Children's Hospital.

He has been a patron at the hospital for 10 years and is hoping to raise £250,000 for a state-of-the-art piece of equipment for the hospital.

"I often go down there and see the kids in hospital," said Mr Vaughan.

"I've always enjoyed the aspect of what the Children's Hospital brings to Sheffield. It's not just a service for people in Yorkshire but up there with the best children's hospitals in the country."

'Faster recovery'

Mr Vaughan who lives near Sheffield will be travelling with his wife, Nicola, who thought of the idea, alongside 20 other friends and family on 17 September.

The journey, which will take seven days, will take the group along the Huangyaguan hills, north west of Beijing following the hills and mountains, leading them on to Heaven's Ladder which is a steep climb of more than 200 steps.

The money raised will provide a piece of equipment which surgeons will use for brain, spinal, ear, nose and throat operations which they say will lead to shortened operation times and improve accuracy, leading to a faster recovery.

If the hospital raises enough money for the equipment which is known as the Integrated Intra-operative Surgical Navigation System it would be the only hospital in England to use the system.

The Sheffield Children's Hospital is one of four dedicated Children's Hospital Trusts in the UK.