Scaling African peak in mission against cancer

Keith McClelland, pictured below, will be spurred on towards the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro by the memory of his four relatives who have come into contact with the disease.

His mother and father died from cancer, the illness caused the death of his mother-in-law last year and his step-daughter is receiving radiotherapy after a mastectomy and chemotherapy in her fight against breast cancer.

"All this has persuaded me to finally get off my bum and do something," said Mr McClelland.

"I was extremely close to my father. We were like close friends rather than a father and son. We did everything together. It will be very emotional '“ as I get to the top, especially, as I will be tired as well."

Grandfather Mr McClelland, 48, is hoping to raise 5,000 for Marie Curie Cancer Care with his trek to the roof of Africa.

Mount Kilimanjaro is four miles above sea level at a height of 15,100 feet and is just inside Tanzania.

Reaching the summit around the end of June will require a seven-hour climb starting at 30 minutes past midnight to get to the top to watch the sun rise.

"It will be tough and I'd never got close to a mountain before I began training for the climb," said Mr McClelland, of Church Lane.

He has been to a training camp in the Brecon Beacons in Wales to prepare his body and mind for the expedition.

He is also packing in as many lengthy walks, some along the downs, as he can.

Donations can be made to www.tigpud.com.

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