A Kings Langley man who suffers with asthma will trek up Mount Kilimanjaro, two decades after he had to sit out of a school trip to do the climb.

Pritesh Gajjar, 38, will be part of a team of people who will spend six days trekking through five different eco systems to reach the peak, 5,000m above sea level.

He will be helping to raise money for the NSPCC, a children’s charity who aim to change and improve the lives of children.

The 11 day adventure to Mount Kilimanjaro will run from February 6 to February 16 and follows the Rongai route to the peak. Pritesh Gajjar, who works as a Technical Director for a small communications company, said: "I grew up in Tanzania and suffered with asthma which meant I was always sidelined whenever school trips to Kilimanjaro came up as well as any other physical challenges.

"Throughout the years I developed a rather unhealthy lifestyle but following a health scare, which gave me a wakeup call, I started eating healthy and exercising which led to alleviating my asthma symptoms as well as improved fitness levels. This wasn't enough though and one fine day just as I was researching challenges, an email about the Kilimanjaro challenge popped into my inbox.

"I can’t wait for the challenge and am most looking forward to reaching the Uhuru peak. It will also be wonderful to share the entire experience with my kids and their local school upon my return. My son, Dhillan, who is 5, and my daughter, Juhi, who is 8, have both been extremely supportive of my challenge."

"The NSPCC does some incredible things for children. It's a charity I hold close to my heart primarily because I have witnessed child cruelty and cannot tolerate it or any form of abuse involving children. Every child deserves a bright future."

Sally Phipps, community fundraising manager, added: "It is great to have the support and commitment from people like Pritesh Gajjar. It’s not a challenge to be taken lightly as all participants have to raise a minimum of £4,275 but am sure Pritesh will do it with the support of family, friends and his local community behind him.

"We simply wouldn’t be able to run our services, which are so often a lifeline to children and young people, without the help from people like Pritesh."

To support Pritesh Gajjar on his challenge, visit his fundraising page at http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/pritesh