WIDOWER Patrick Moran almost gave up on a climb to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro - but was spurred on by the memory of his wife.

Dizzy spells and sickness plagued Mr Moran, who is blind in one eye, throughout his African expedition.

It took almost a year of training and planning to undertake the trek to raise money for Teesside Hospice, who cared for his wife Judy as she battled against cancer.

But Mr Moran was close to throwing in his rucksack on three occasions, as altitude sickness took over him.

"I just kept saying to myself 'I have to finish this for Judy' and somehow found the energy to get to the top," said Mr Moran.

In the months leading up to her death, in February last year, Mrs Moran penned her own eulogy, in which she listed climbing Kilimanjaro as one of the highlights of her life.

Her devoted husband Patrick, 55, vowed to climb Africa's highest mountain in her name.

Despite suffering a detached retina three years ago, Mr Moran trained rigorously for the ten-day expedition.

Friends, family and colleagues worked tirelessly to organise fundraising events, including coffee mornings, quiz nights and auctions.

The total amount raised is expected to reach more than £6,500, which will go to the hospice.

Mr Moran said: "It's the hardest thing I've ever done. And I nearly gave up a few times.

"The high altitudes made me just want to sleep, but then I thought of Judy. She got me to the top."

Mr Moran joined a group of 24 fundraisers on the journey, which started when he flew to Kenya on January 18.

He told how he enjoyed food with views of wild animals on the Serengeti, and was guarded on camp by Massai warriors.

He said: "The last climb, during the night, was the hardest. We walked 1,300 metres, up 4,000ft, with just a torch.

"It's something I'll remember for the rest of my life, and I've got Judy to thank for that."

Mr Moran, who lived with his wife in Redcar, east Cleveland, for 13 years, suffered a detached retina the day before their wedding in 2003.

Months after the wedding, Judy was diagnosed with cervical cancer and died on February 13 last year.