AN adventurous St Thomas's councillor is appealing for sponsorship as they prepare to take on their most mountainous charity challenge yet.

Councillor Steve Waltho and his 17-year-old Stourbridge College student son James are planning to climb Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa - the world's highest free standing mountain - next month.

The dynamic duo - who jet off on October 19 - have been training hard for the event, walking across Wales and in the Lake District.

But they still need more sponsors to help them raise as much money as possible for Dudley-based Action Heart, children's charity Dudley HOPE, Dudley Cancer Support and Lupus West Midlands.

In the past the pair have completed numerous charity stunts - including walking 190 miles from coast to coast across the north of England two years ago to mark Steve's 50th birthday.

Steve has also run many marathons, cycled the length of the country and completed the 24-hour Three Peaks Challenge twice - raking in around £100,000 for different charities over the years.

But even he admits his latest challenge will test him to the limit.

The conditions on Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest peak, vary from warm and dry to tropical to below freezing on the icy 19,340-foot summit.

Steve, who works as a shift team leader at Oldbury chemical plant Rhodia, said: "It's a leap into the unknown because of the altitude. It's higher than Everest base camp. It's going to be quite a challenge, but we're optimistic."

Big-hearted businesses or individuals wishing to sponsor the pair can call Steve on 07703 308463 or email him at steve.waltho@blueyonder.co.uk