CLIMBERS taking part in the sixth annual Bert Bissell memorial climb of Ben Nevis are now back home in Dudley, having raised over £1,000 for a courageous mum battling cancer.

Members of the Bert Bissell Memorial Society took on Britain's highest peak last weekend (August 10-11), where they braved the elements to reach the summit to raise funds for the Team Jules campaign.

The climb has taken place annually for the last six years, in memory of Dudley peace campaigner Bert Bissell, who climbed the summit on VJ in 1945 with a team of youngsters to build a peace cairn that is today Britain's highest war memorial.

The memorial climb was set up by Ian Austin MP and Councillor Steve Waltho, and each year sees a group of retrace Bert's steps while raising money for good causes.

This year's climb aimed to raise money for the Team Jules campaign, in support of mother-of-three Julie Garratt-Payne who is battling secondary liver cancer.

Family and friends have rallied around Julia to form Team Jules, which aims to raise £25,000 to fund Selective Internal Radiation Therapy for Julia, a rare treatment that is not available on the NHS.

The Ben Nevis team overcame adverse weather to complete the challenge, even having to postpone the climb by a day due to dangerous weather conditions.

Councillor Waltho explained: "We checked the weather for the climb the day after and it was downright dangerous with torrential rain and gale force winds. There were six of the party who were going to attempt the climb and after a meeting it was decided to postpone and utilise our fall back day. I was personally very relieved since I was suffering a bout of sciatica and would have stood no chance in severe weather.

"I've climbed Ben Nevis many times myself and have never seen such a weather contrast."

The party made it to the top of the mountain the following day, where they were greeted by a brass band.

Councillor Waltho added: "We all agreed that Jules was never far from our thoughts."

Now back home, the team are still collecting donations to fund Julia's urgently needed treatment.

Anyone who still wishes to contribute can do so by contacting Steve on 07703 308463 or by making a direct contribution at: https://www.gofundme.com/f/fundraisng4jules