A SCIENTIST recovering from a brain tumour has completed a mountain climb to raise funds for a children's cancer charity.

Kevin Foster, 41, embarked on the Three Peaks Challenge, which takes in Ben Nevis, Snowdon and Scafell Pike, with friends Geoff Hunter, 46, Ken Brown, 65, and Bruce Elliott, 40, earlier this month.

The group, who are all from Darlington, had to complete the climbs in 24 hours - ascending more than 9,000ft and driving 500 miles between each of the sites.

Mr Foster, who works at York Hospital, was diagnosed with a brain tumour last year and underwent emergency surgery at Middlesbrough General Hospital.

His experience prompted him to take on the challenge in aid of the Starlight Children's Foundation, a charity helping youngsters recovering from surgery or who are terminally ill with cancer.

"I feel very lucky to have received such good treatment at Middlesbrough," said Mr Foster, whose team raised more than £1,100. "Hopefully, completing the challenge demonstrates that the shock of being diagnosed with a brain tumour does not have to be the end of the road for anyone."

Mr Elliott, an NHS manager, has been an insulin dependent diabetic for 33 years. He said: "In some ways my diabetes actually helped me. On Snowdon I felt jiggered as we neared the top and the need to take some glucose was a good excuse for a rest before the final haul to the top."

Arriva Car and Van Hire donated a car to the team for their journey.