FRIENDS of a Keighley man who lost his life in a crash are climbing the Three Peaks to help raise the £5,000 needed to finish a car project in his memory.

Mechanical engineer Kyle Goater, 25, died last week, on Tuesday, July 20, when his black MG ZS collided with two other vehicles on Moor Road, Burley-in-Wharfedale.

Kyle was really into his cars, and, before his death, he was in the midst of customising his own with the goal of creating the “Evo Killer”.

The car is an old Rover 45 that has been stripped and was waiting to be modified and turned into a sleeper (a high-performance car with an unassuming exterior).

Friend Sam Treece decided it would be a good idea to try complete the project as a tribute. To do this, Sam and several others who were close to Kyle will be attempting to complete the National Three Peaks Challenge over the weekend of August 21-22.

At time of writing, the fundraiser is well on its way to reaching its target with £3,425 already donated.

Sam cannot thank people enough for their generosity and recalls the awful moment he was told one of his best mates had passed away.

He said: “I was very close to Kyle. Before I went to university, we would see each other pretty much every day. He was more like family.

“My mate rang me on the Wednesday morning and told me the news and I was pretty shocked by it. I was speechless. I went home that same day to meet all the boys and had a drink to pay tribute to him.

“I had seen people do fundraisers before, so I just came up with the idea the morning after and tried to get everyone on board.

“It will be his dad and brother who will finish the car off because they know what they are doing. It was something Kyle had been working on for ages. It is just a shame that he never got to finish it. He was well into his cars, so this is the perfect tribute to him.

“I was looking at the Yorkshire Three Peaks at first but then thought against that and said we will do the more ruthless national one

 “We will start at midday on the Saturday and will finish whatever time it turns out to be on Sunday. We are climbing Scafell Pike overnight. It is going to be difficult!

“I didn’t think we would raise so much so soon. Close friends, family and workmates have all donated.”

All donations, big or small, would be greatly appreciated and would be used to create the perfect tribute to Kyle.

If you would like to donate and help Sam and his friends reach their target, visit https://uk.gofundme.com/f/three-peaks-challenge-for-kyle-goater/three-peaks-challenge-for-kyle-goater/share