MOUNTAINEER Simon Knighton is in the middle of tackling one of the world’s highest peaks to raise money for Cavell Nurses’ Trust, the national charity which he chairs.

The 63-year-old, of South Street in Aldbourne, set out on his mission to climb Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Africa, on September 12 and is expected to complete the challenge next Thursday.

The former chief executive of a health care company is an experienced mountaineer and has tackled some of the world’s highest peaks including Mount Everest in 2011.

This is the second climb Mr Knighton has taken on this year to raise money for the Worcestershire-based charity which helps nurses, midwives and healthcare assistants in financial difficulties.

In August, he completed the less daunting challenge of climbing to the top of Snowdon in Wales as part of a group raising money for the charity.

The Snowdon climb was the first challenge event organised by the nursing charity as part of its recently launched Centenary Appeal which runs until October 2015.

The centenary marks the death in 1915 of the famous nurse Edith Cavell whom the charity is named after.

Cavell was a British nurse who helped the wounded of all sides in Belgium in World War One. She was shot by the Germans.

The appeal aims to double the number of beneficiaries which the trust seeks to help.

Mr Knighton, who is also the chairman of Sirona Care and Health in Bath, said: “As chairman of Cavell Nurses’ Trust, I am raising much needed funds to support nurses, midwives and healthcare assistants in need.

“It is through events like these that we encourage community fundraising.

“We are able to make a real difference to someone’s life with the money raised.”

To find out more about the charity visit www.cavellnursestrust.org.

To donate visit www.justgiving. com/Simon-Knighton2.