A LANCASTER couple is set to climb one of the world's highest mountains to raise funds for an organisation they credit with saving their nephew's life.

David and Angela Croxall, of Bowerham, are currently training hard for the climb of Kilimanjaro, the highest peak on the African continent and the world's highest free standing mountain.

The nine day climb will be far from easy and many who've tried before them have failed but, says David, Lancaster City Council's Elections Officer, when the going gets tough they will just have to think of their now happy and healthy nephew and this will spur them on.

The nephew in question is little Lewis Gillin. Lewis, who will be one on 7 September - the same day that David and Angela fly out to Tanzania - was born four weeks premature by emergency Caesarean when serious complications in the pregnancy developed.

His mum, Cath, who works in the Communications Office at Lancaster Town Hall, takes up the story of Lewis' traumatic arrival into the world.

"For a couple of days I hadn't felt him kick,'' said Cath. "I was concerned and made an emergency doctor's appointment. He sent me to the hospital where the tests showed that the baby's health was deteriorating rapidly and they immediately performed a Caesarean. When Lewis was born there was barely any life in him. It was an extremely traumatic time for all the family. Poor Lewis was in a terrible way but owing to the dedicated staff and lifesaving equipment in the Special Care Baby Unit at the Royal Lancaster Infirmary he soon made a full recovery.

"We are so grateful to all the staff there and I think what David and Angela are doing for the Unit is fantastic. It can only benefit all those parents who, sadly, will go through the same experience we did. I wish them all the luck in the world."

David and Angela are hoping to raise £2,000. Angela's colleagues at the Halifax have already been very generous as have staff and councillors at the council.

The couple have also received support from Lancaster and Morecambe Athletic Club, of which David is a member.

Speaking about the 19,335ft climb David commented: "We are looking forward to it but are a bit apprehensive. I've done some tough things before such as two days mountain climbing carrying all the gear and against the clock but I don't think anything will compare with this.

"The hardest thing will probably be dealing with the altitude. With it being on the equator we are also going to find ourselves in darkness for 12 hours a day with very low night temperatures. Camping and cooking on a stove for nine days on the edge of a mountainside should be fun too! It will be worth it though.

"When Lewis was born he had a 50:50 chance of survival. He pulled through and has become a healthy child doing all the things normal babies do. He has just started crawling and is so full of character. We are really lucky and so grateful to the Unit. We felt we had to do something to say thank you to the amazing and dedicated staff. A couple of years ago we saw a programme about

people doing the climb for charity. Angela remembered the programme and we decided that's what we would do to raise money for the Unit."

If you would like to sponsor David and Angela's climb and support the Special Care Baby Unit at the RLI please contact David on 582058.