Pete Vickers with the Help for Heroes flag at Uhuru peak

Pete has raised more than £3000 for injured soldiers by climbing the highest mountain in Africa.  After an experience of a lifetime Pete is back home and back on the rugby pitch but is still counting the cash he has raised for the Help the Heroes charity.

He walked the 5,895 metres to the top of the dormant volcano in five days as part of a team of 28 climbers aged between 22 and 66.  He was one of 24 from the team who made it to the top, four of the climbers having to retire due to altitude sickness.  Pete then made it back down the mountain in one day.

"You take your time climbing up so you can get acclimatised.  Physicall and mentally it is the toughest thing I have ever done.  I started walking on Monday and when I got to the camp on Tuesday I felt awful.  But, by the next day I was acclimatised and I felt fine again," he recalled.

Pete chose to do the climb for the charity, which supports servicemen and women injured during conflict.  We have all seen the documentaries and heard the stories in the news recently but Pete chose to do something to help the victims.  "I just think it is a great charity" he said.

During the climb, two women and one man had to return to the bottom with sickness and another man collapsed at the top.  "He was lucky to be alive and if he hadn't got off the mountain as quickly as he did, he wouldn't have made it. Although it's dangerous, when you are walking up the mountain, some of the views are unbelievable.  You need to be fit to do it, but not a fitness freak.  It was the most amazing experience of my life and I would definitely do it again."

Pete would like to say a massive thank you to all those at the Club who have sponsored him.  Your generosity has been wonderful.  Thank you.

Donations can still be made at http://www.justgiving.com/petervickers/

More photos:

On top of the world	Camp
Cloud carpet	The Climb

The Group