The heat may have been un-bear-able but the amount raised for charity more than made up for it.

When staff at a Poole-based aviation consultancy decided to raise funds for The Dorset Children’s Foundation they used their imagination to organise an amazing challenge.

Inspired by the children’s book ‘We’re Going on a Bear Hunt’ by Michael Rosen, the Think Research team completed over 15 miles of hiking in the baking heat along the Dorset coast.

But this was no ordinary hike.

Instead they gave themselves the added challenge of one of the team being dressed in the charity’s Dorsey Bear mascot costume.

And to add even more difficulty, they also took a wheelchair with 30kg of weights attached along rocky, narrow paths and over dozens of stiles.

The aim was to show how difficult it would be to do this in a wheelchair – or with a child in a wheelchair.

Despite all odds they managed to stay in high spirits, especially when the author himself – Michael Rosen – tweeted words of support to his 289,000 followers.

So far around £6,500 has been raised.

Conor Mullan, pictured left, Think Research’s Co-Founder and Managing Director, said: “We wanted to raise money for this worthy cause whilst helping to raise awareness of what it’s like to live with a disability and how difficult it can be as a wheelchair user to do things other people take for granted.

“That’s why we took the weighted wheelchair with us and had to push, drag and carry it through some very inaccessible areas.

“I think we knew it would be tricky but in the end with the heat, the terrain, and the distance it was much more difficult than we first anticipated.

“But at the same time, we had one difficult day and many people that The DCF help experience these difficulties every day.

“That’s why it is very rewarding to know that some of the money will be spent on an all-terrain wheelchair for a profoundly disabled little boy so he can access both the beautiful Dorset countryside and the beach enabling them to enjoy this beautiful place in which we live.”

Patsy Hallmey, pictured right, Co-Founder of the charity, said: “It is thanks to amazing people like these that we can continue our vital work to support local disabled children.

“Thank you to the incredible team there and to all their friends, family and colleagues for the generous donations and support.”

The DCF was founded in 2013 and is a small, independent charity created to enhance the lives of local disabled children and their families.

• thedcf.org