THE daughter of a former Derby head teacher is preparing to run, cycle and swim 300km in memory of her father.
Paul Gardner, former head of Cavendish Close Junior School, died on Christmas Day last year after suffering from multiple systems atrophy cerebellum, a long-term degenerative neurological condition.
Now his daughter, Anna, is undertaking three challenges to raise money for the MSA Trust.
The first is a non-stop 100km walk from London to Brighton on May 24. This will be followed two weeks later on June 7 by London NightRider, a 100km cycle ride in London overnight. The final event will be a 100km swim on July 12.
Anna said: "My dad was a strong and extremely capable man all his life and for him to go through the degenerative disease MSA was very sad to see.
"He was a great father. He was always very kind and fair and gave a lot of thought to his actions. He was very important to me and my family and totally irreplaceable.
"I think a lot of people that knew him in Derby remember him as a very respectable man who was always ready to help people out."
Mr Gardner, 66, was head at the Chaddesden school for 15 years from 1988 to 2003 and he and his wife lived in Kirk Ireton for 10 years with their four children.
His funeral was held in Kirk Ireton village church and was attended by hundreds of mourners, where tributes were paid to Mr Gardner as a husband, father, teacher and rock climber.
He was described as a "brilliant, friendly and charismatic" man.
Mr Gardner was also formerly head at Hallam Fields School, Ilkeston, and deputy head at Cherry Tree Hill Junior School, before becoming a professional development adviser in 2003 with Derby City Council.
Anna said: "Dad was most well known for being a fair and kind man. He was always there for us, spending time with us when we needed him.
"I know he would approve of my attempting these challenges and my desire to raise money into the disease because it is very hard to detect and cure."
Anna, who lives in London, will be undertaking the swimming leg of the challenge with a group of friends "because I think it might be just a bit too far for me on my own".
When Mr Gardner's death was announced, it started an avalanche of tributes on several social media networks as people recalled the time when they attended the school.
As a result, it was decided that, because plans are in hand to rebuild Cavendish Close Junior School over the next couple of years, a room should be named after Mr Gardner in the new building.
Another former teacher at the school for 36 years, Rodney Kulewka, who died on the same day as Mr Gardner, will also be remembered with a room.
Anyone wishing to make a contribution to Anna's fund-raising events should go to www.justgiving.com/AnnaPGardner
