A CANCER survivor and his family climbed 6,000 metres up an African mountain to raise more than £13,000 for two charities.

Tony and Bev Turner, aged 45 and 47, along with Bev’s brother Glen Robinson, 42, climbed Mount Kilimanjaro at the end of October.

The trio, all from Thorpe Bay, were rigorously training for the mammoth task for months, including hikes in the Peak District, where they would begin at 5am.

Despite suffering bouts of altitude sickness and a gruelling six day trek, all three managed to reach the summit six days after they began on October 22.

The team dubbed themselves “Team BTG” and have a group fundraising page along with their own separate ones, which have now accumulated £13,000 of their £15,000 target so far.

Mr Turner said: “Knowing that we were raising money for two important causes and had such kind messages of support, undoubtedly helped us all make it.

“For me, reaching the summit when the odds were heavily stacked against, due to altitude sickness - taught me two important lessons.

“The first is to appreciate the very basic essentials. Just being able to breathe, eat, drink and walk without severe difficulty or pain is a true blessing.

“Second, no matter how hard things get..always keep a ‘positive mind’ put one step in front of the other, never give up and you will eventually recover and get to where you need to be.”

Tony works in modular building, and has been training with an altitude mask to acclimatise to the high altitude, as his attempt to climb 3,000 metres up Mount Teide, in Tenerife, earlier this year resulted in him having to give up half way through.

Mount Kilimanjaro, in Tanzania, is the highest mountain in Africa, with the peak standing at 5,895 meters.

The team chose Mind and Cancer Research UK as their two charities following the support the family received during Mr Turner’s cancer treatment.

Mr Turner added: “Thank you to Majestic Kilimanjaro for your photo updates and especially to our special Chief guide Kefas and truly amazing team of Porters who made this all possible.

“Thanks to all for their very kind donations and support for all of us during this trip to Team BTG, they will go to fantastic causes.”