A FORMER Tenby man, Peter Griffiths, now chief executive of Principality Building Society, handed over the sum of £54,000 to NSPCC Cymru/Wales this week following a once-in-a-lifetime climb to the peak of Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa. The five-day gruelling 20,000ft assent to the summit of the world's tallest free-standing mountain in Tanzania was completed by Peter and a team of 12 people, including the WRU's David Pickering, back in January. The team had committed to raise more than £100,000 for the NSPCC's Full Stop appeal in Wales. Peter smashed through his target of £20,000 and - with the support of colleagues, Principality customers, the business community, friends and family - he raised £54,055.85, contributing to the group's total of over £200,000. Peter Griffiths said: "This was a once in a lifetime opportunity and a personal challenge for me - not only to reach the summit, but also to raise as much money as possible to further the work of the NSPCC in Wales. I'm very grateful to everyone who supported me." The money Peter raised could pay for two months running cost for the NSPCC's Young People's Centre in Bangor, four months running costs for Young Witness Support in Swansea or one month's running costs for Safe Houses in Cardiff. NSPCC FULL STOP campaign manager for Wales, Carol Gillanders, said: "On behalf of the children who use our services, I'd like to say a big thank you. There are currently nearly 3,000 children on the at risk register in Wales. Without the efforts of Peter and the group who conquered Kilimanjaro, children in Wales would not be as safe as they are now." WRU chairman David Pickering said: "As a father of four young daughters, I wanted to do anything I could to end cruelty to children in Wales. Everyone who joined us on the trip to Tanzania are parents themselves, so the trip meant an awful lot to us all." Peter Griffiths's fundraising accomplishment and his commitment to furthering the social housing agenda in Wales was recognised at the Business in the Community Wales Awards for Excellence this month where he received The Prince's Ambassador Award. The award, presented by HRH The Prince of Wales, is for individuals whose leadership and commitment to responsible business practice and the actions they have taken personally have created a positive impact both inside their company and on wider society.