Bingley-based thermal clothing specialist Damart has donated clothing to retired Leeds GP Professor Phil Heywood, who is skiing to the North Pole this month to raise money for Voluntary Service Overseas.

Professor Heywood, 69, is hoping to raise £30,000 in 2014 to help fund VSO’s work to reduce the number of women who die in pregnancy and childbirth in the developing world. He has spent the past five years working in Cambodia, South Sudan and Vietnam working for VSO.

Phil Anderson, Damart’s marketing and e-commerce director, said: “Professor Heywood is an inspirational figure. Since retiring he has continued to help others.

“As the inventor of thermal, the least we can do is give him some of our warmest thermals to keep him warm.”

Professor Heywood said: “More than 6,000 women worldwide die every week from childbirth and pregnancy. I’ve witnessed first-hand how distressing this can be and want to help fund VSO.