Pictured above:  ITT Water & Wastewater, Sales Office Manager, Richard Phillips and wife Angela at Kilimanjaro's summit for Cancer Research 

Richard Phillips, Sales Office Manager for ITT Water & Wastewater UK Ltd in Colwick achieved his biggest challenge yet by completing a 6 day climb up Kilimanjaro, raising a staggering £3592 for Cancer Research.

The team of four including, Richard's wife Angela, a nurse at Royal Derby Hospital and two friends, climbed to an altitude of over 19,000 feet, reaching the summit mid-morning on the sixth day of the trek, taking the tough Machame Route. 

Kilimanjaro is the highest free standing mountain in the world and the team was elated, yet exhausted at reaching the summit and raising so much for the charity that is so close to their hearts. They raised money through the help of friends and colleagues to show support for family and friends who have been affected by cancer.  

Richard and his fellow climbers spent four months training to climb Kilimanjaro. He said: "We spent six weeks training intensively at Bramcote Leisure Centre until the big day. The summit day was the toughest - the blue skies turned into treacherous conditions and we spent the final nine hour ascent climbing in snow nearly ten inches deep."

Despite potential health risks, including altitude sickness and even the risk of pulmonary oedema - a fatal filling up of fluid in the lungs, Richard maintains that climbing Kilimanjaro remains an unforgettable experience. "At times we all got severe headaches and experienced altitude sickness, but this is my biggest achievement to date and we would like to say a massive thanks to everyone who helped us to raise such a great amount of money for a good cause."

Richards's next challenge will be the 6 Peaks Challenge with two teams from ITT Water & Wastewater UK Ltd in July, supporting WaterAid. The teams aim to complete the challenge in just 72 hours.Ends