A NATIVE of Tenby hit new heights last week, as he completed a climb to the top of Africa's highest mountain along with some faces who are used to tackling some sporting challenges.

Michael Hughes, son of Tom and Beryl Hughes, of The Croft, Tenby, reached the top of Kilimanjaro, along with seven others of a contingent from Little Haven, who took part in the 'Captains' Climb' challenge.

The Pembrokeshire group joined 15 former Welsh rugby captains, including Eddie Butler, Ieuan Evans, Bob Norster, Paul Thorburn, Welsh and British Lions coach Warren Gatland, and other well-known faces in Welsh rugby, in taking part in the climb, with the aim to help raise £1million to go towards making Velindre Hospital in Cardiff a national, and even international, centre of excellence for the treatment of lung cancer.

The Captains' Climb was the brainchild of Huw Evans, official photographer for the WRU, and a long-standing visitor to Little Haven. When his wife Sue, a lifelong non-smoker, was diagnosed with lung cancer, he vowed to do something to make a difference in the understanding and treatment of the disease which kills more people in England and Wales than any other form of cancer.

Huw quickly realised that with the connections and friendships he had built up in Welsh rugby over the years, he was uniquely placed to bring together a very special group of people to drive his fund-raising efforts.

Alongside the rugby legends, he recruited a number of private individuals, each of whom pledged themselves to raise £10,000 to join the captains in their climb.

The climax of the whole effort came early Monday morning, when nearly all the group (and all the Little Haven contingent, including Michael and Huw, along with Peter Phillips, Geoff Graham, Julian Hitchcock, Jeff Hughes, Alan Morgan and Martin Smith), reached Gilman's Point, the official summit of Kilimanjaro. A smaller number, including most of the Little Haven party, pushed on to the furthest point of Uhuru.

Their feelings were summed up by Michael: "It was by far the toughest thing I have ever done in life, but to have achieved it must be one of my proudest moments.

"It was exhausting and emotional, really beyond all words. We all had our own very personal reasons for undertaking the climb, and I think all these came flooding out as we eventually reached the top. In my case, it was the memories of my sister Sara who died of lung cancer just over two years ago.

"Although it was too late to help her and many others, I really think we all feel we have done something incredibly positive for lung cancer sufferers in the future," added Michael, who revealed that over £330,000 had been raised for lung cancer so far.

The group's challenge was also featured on an ITV programme screened last (Thursday) night.

Details on how to contribute to the Captains' Climb can be found at http://www.captainsclimb.com">www.captainsclimb.com