Tim Dazeley successfully climbed Mount Kilimanjaro last week in order to raise money for Prostate Cancer UK after his father, local John Dazeley, was diagnosed with type 2 Prostate cancer in June last year. His father was born and still lives in Ross-on-Wye; previously owning John Dazeley’s furniture store in Ross. He currently plays the organ at Christ Church.

To train for the trek, Tim ran and cycled regularly. He previously told the Ross Gazette that he had trekked the Inca Trail last year in order to raise money for arthritis UK, as his mother has arthritis. But as Kilimanjaro has an ascent of 5,895 metres, whereas the Inca Trail has an ascent of 4,200 metres, his main concern for the trek was altitude sickness.

After the climb, Tim told the Gazette: “Kilimanjaro was very tough, wet and constant hard work. This was combined with the headaches, nausea and lack of sleep from altitude sickness, which was my biggest struggle.

“Out of the 18 people I trekked with, two didn’t make it to the summit due to altitude sickness.”

It took Tim four and a half days to reach the summit of Kilimanjaro, and one and a half days to get back down. On the last day of the ascent he started at midnight and got the summit at sunrise, taking a photograph holding a copy of the Ross Gazette.

Tim has raised over £1200 from his climb, which will go to Prostate Cancer UK.