ATTEMPTING to climb Africa's highest mountain is not a decision made lightly. But when Judith Moran was diagnosed with terminal cancer, it was the easiest decision her husband Patrick had ever made.

Having lost his sight in one eye, 55-year-old Mr Moran knew it was going to be the challenge of a lifetime.

Undaunted, he plans to tackle the mountain in memory of his 61-year-old wife and raise money for the charity Teesside Hospice.

Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa, at 19,344ft.

In the months leading up to her death, in February, Mrs Moran, known as Judy, penned her own eulogy.

She listed Kilimanjaro as one of the highlights of her life, having reached 15,000ft at the age of 18, before being forced to descend because of a lack of oxygen.

"It certainly will be difficult," said Mr Moran. "But I'm doing it for Judy.

"When she was 18, Judy was in Africa working as a nanny when she climbed the mountain. It was one of the highlights of her life and I want to share that memory.

"Being sponsored is my way of repaying the tremendous work of the Macmillan Nurse and the staff of Teesside Hospice, who were a great comfort to her during her last few months of life."

Mr Moran, who lived with his wife in Redcar, east Cleveland, for 13 years, told how he suffered a detached retina the day before the couple's wedding in August 2003.

"I was totally blind in my right eye for our wedding, but I was determined it was not going to spoil our day," he said.

"Nobody could tell I was blind by looking at me and we even joked about it in my speech.

"We had to cut short our honeymoon in Paris to return home for an operation."

Despite a series of treatments and operations, Mr Moran has been unable to regain sight in his eye.

It was only months after the couple's wedding day when Judy was diagnosed with cervical cancer.

When doctors told her it was terminal, her devoted husband vowed to climb Kilimanjaro in her memory.

Mrs Moran died on February 13.

Mr Moran said: "I think my most testing time will be on the descent. I can cope with things in front of me, but I think with the tricky terrain I could have a few problems.

"However, I am looking forward to the challenge, and I can then say, as Judy did, that I climbed Kilimanjaro."

It will take Mr Moran eight days to climb the mountain. His last day will involve 15 hours of walking, setting off from his camp at midnight and climbing more than 3,000ft to the summit, then descending 7,000ft.

Anyone who can sponsor him is asked to call him on (01642) 488017.