A Grove Park man who battled leukaemia as a teenager has climbed Britain’s highest mountain to support the charity which gave him his confidence back.

Luke Richardson, now 26, was 14 when he was diagnosed with Lymphoblastic Leukaemia which affected his mental health.

He spent prolonged periods in hospital, missed school and was often too ill to socialise with friends.

After sailing with the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust, a charity working with young people to rebuild their confidence after cancer, Luke began to re-engage with life.

Luke, who is now a father, climbed Ben Nevis with his sister Nix and mum Kimberley to raise hundreds of pounds for the charity because of the 4,411ft hike.

He said: “Being diagnosed was a very hard time for both me and my family. At such a young age it changed everything. Being in the bubble of cancer treatment strips away confidence for young people. The Trust is an amazing charity that helped me through this difficult time in my life.

“The hospital staff introduced me to the Trust when they realised I had an interest in sailing and it was the best thing they could have done for me.”

The dad is now a volunteer for the charity.

He explained: “I’ve come out the other side and have children of my own, which back then I could not see happening.

“As a volunteer, I could help other young people going through what I had been through and now this is my way of giving a little back to make a difference to more young lives.”