A BROTHER and sister have successfully scaled the highest mountain in Africa to raise £3,000 for the Yorkshire Cancer Centre Appeal.

Vicki Burton, 41, of Guiseley and Sean Gilbert, 47, of Yeadon, were two out of four from a group of seven who reached the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro on their trip from July 7 to 15. Vicki said: "It was an amazing trip but without doubt physically one of the hardest things either of us has ever done."

The siblings have been fundraising in honour of their mother Maggie Gilbert, of Ilkley, who died from cancer in December 2013, aged 67. Maggie was cared for in Bradford's Marie Curie Hospice and Vicki has raised £30,000 for Marie Curie. However, the Africa trip was to raise money for the Yorkshire Cancer Centre because of the wonderful care received there by family and friends. The Yorkshire Cancer Centre Appeal raises funds for St James’s Institute of Oncology, ‘Jimmy’s’ in Leeds.

On their justgiving site Vicki and Sean told supporters: "Last Christmas we received the devastating news that Sean's wife Vicki had breast cancer. Over the last six months she has endured six chemotherapy sessions, countless procedures and other hospital visits to try and defeat this terrible disease, all the time receiving wonderful care from the health professionals and volunteers at St James's Hospital in Leeds.

"Sadly in addition to Vicki's struggle our lives have also been touched due to supporting close friends and their own battles with cancer, again receiving care at this institution.

"Our attempt to climb Kilimanjaro in July is to raise money for the Yorkshire Cancer Centre based out of the hospital, to recognise their amazing work and say thank you. This charity is the fundraising arm of Leeds Cancer Centre at St James's Institute of Oncology and provides supplementary benefits; specialist medical equipment, research and development and patient ‘home comforts’.

"Each day, the Institute has responsibility for treating 2,000 patients (from a catchment population of 2.6 million), most of whom will have had a cancer diagnosis.

"Their appeal aims to supplement NHS budgets by purchasing those ‘extras’ to help ensure that patients continue to receive the very best that this centre can provide.

"We have asked so much of people over the years already, but anything that can be spared, no matter how small will be greatly appreciated."

Vicki and Sean can still be sponsored at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/seanvickikilimanjaro