Dad to climb Alps to raise awareness for cancer charity

Hampshire dad Rob Ritchie’s climbing up a mountain in the Alps to raise awareness for the Brain Tumour Charity.

Mr Ritchie’s youngest son Toby was diagnosed with a brain tumour last year at the age of five. He has since endured major surgery followed by 18 months of chemotherapy, with more gruelling treatment to come.

Now Goldman Sachs managing director Mr Ritchie – who lives near Romsey in Hampshire - has vowed to increase awareness of paediatric brain tumours, which kill more children in the UK than any other type of cancer.

He has brought together a team of colleagues and others to tackle a unique endurance test, raising money for vital research into children’s brain tumours.

The ten men and two women will ascend 8,848 metres on skis - equivalent to the world’s highest mountain - in aid of The Brain Tumour Charity.

The challenge, called Everest in the Alps, will take place over four days in Switzerland next March.

The team will make 13 ascents and climb on touring skis for around 28 hours in total, with only two hours of downhill skiing.

Toby Ritchie, now six, is the youngest of three brothers. He suffered health problems for several months before he was finally diagnosed with a brain tumour last year.

Because of its position in his brain stem, it could not be fully removed through surgery so the family opted for chemotherapy to slow its growth.