Seven years after losing his wife of 17-years to breast cancer, Richard Hardy is set to embark on the trip of a lifetime up Mount Kilimanjaro, in Tanzania.

But the 47-year-old's passion for climbing and walking is not the only reason behind the trip as he hopes to raise £5,000 for Sue Ryder Care's Thorpe Hall Hospice, where his wife spent her last few weeks.

Rachel Hardy (39) died on May 7, 2001 at the hospice after a short battle with breast cancer.

Mr Hardy said: "She was a brilliant woman, very devoted to our three children and a wonderful wife.

"She had a very good family life and was very much into her amateur dramatics. She is sadly missed by us all every day."

Mr Hardy, from Bainton, near Stamford, will fly out to Tanzania on September 5 for the six-day trip.

He will spend five days climbing up and one day coming back down.

He said: "I regularly walk up hills and mountains across the country, but none as high as this.

"I plan to go as high as I can. I won't know until I start if I will be affected by the altitude, but I certainly plan to give it my best shot.

"I previously walked the Great Wall of China to raise money for Cancer Research UK, but this time I am just raising the funds off my own back for Sue Ryder Care.

"You can't beat the care that you receive at Thorpe Hall. Staff were so supportive, not only for Rachel but also her relatives.

"She felt comfortable there and it was just what we needed at the time."

Mr Hardy will be holding a series of fund-raising events from now until his trip in a bid to reach his £5,000 target.

The first event is a Gilbert and Sullivan concert at the Key Theatre on May 18. The concert will start at 7.30pm. To book tickets, call the box office on 01733 552439.

n To sponsor Mr Hardy, call him on 07801 096641.