A CHORLEY businessman is preparing for a fundraising expedition to Everest Base Camp after being awarded an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours for services to the local community.

Chorley Group chairman Andrew Turner will be doing the trek is in aid of Inspire, Chorley Youth Zone in a bid to raise £25,000 in further support of the children’s charity.

As he is the chairman of the Inspire, Mr Turner has already taken a lead role in securing more than £2.5m of investment to guarantee its long term success.

Mr Turner began his entrepreneurship as the founder of £130m turnover car dealership Chorley Group, which is one of the founder patrons at Inspire, Chorley Youth Zone, pledging £25,000 each year for three years.

And in October 59-year-old Mr Turner plans to trek to Mount Everest’s Base Camp - a monumental challenge for him.

Mr Turner said: “I am truly humbled to receive this honour — it really should be shared with all the people who have worked alongside me over the years at both Chorley Group and the Inspire Youth Zone. Their passion and hard work are the things that drive me on.”

Janine Blythe, chief executive of Inspire, said: “We couldn’t be more proud of our incredible chairman."