A BUSINESSMAN will climb Kilimanjaro in a bid to raise £10,000 in memory of his friend who died after a battle with leukaemia.

Brad Rogers, who runs BRPH Ltd, will trek to the top of the Tanzanian mountain, which is 5,895 metres above sea level, in memory of Lee Blowers who died aged just 34 in December 2015 after an 18-month battle with the disease.

Lee, a former pupil of St Peter’s High School in Burnham, grew up in Latchingdon and later moved to Kensington, where he worked for fashion company Net-a-Porter.

Brad and Lee met at Latchingdon Primary School as children and continued to be friends into adulthood.

Brad, of St Lawrence, said: “Lee moved to London but we still kept in contact. Then Lee unfortunately got leukaemia and had the biggest and bravest battle, still with a smile on his face, inspiring others to keep fighting and never give up.

Maldon and Burnham Standard:

  • Brad Rogers

“Unfortunately Lee lost his battle and I am taking this battle on in his name. I am doing a trek to Kilimanjaro on June 16 and I am doing it in aid of Leukaemia Care.

“It is a ten-day trek up one of the biggest mountains in the world.”

Brad has already set up a Just Giving fundraising page and is asking businesses to sponsor him.

He added: “My target is to raise £10,000 – it sounds bigger than actually doing the feat of Kilimanjaro but I want to go big. It is going to be the big- gest personal achievement of my life.

“I’m ready. I’m pumped. If Lee went through what he went through, I can go through a ten-day trek.

Maldon and Burnham Standard:

  • Lee Blowers

“I need to do it and I want to do it.

There are loads of different treks up this mountain and we are doing the toughest. I’ve decided if I’m going to do it, I’m going all out and doing it.”

So far more than £1,500 has been donated.

Brad has also created a video explaining the challenge.

To donate, visit justgiving.com/ fundraising/beastvbeast