A HAMPSHIRE dad is heading to the summit of Kilimanjaro in a bid to warn others that skin cancer is a killer in memory of his daughter.

Simon Hartley and his family were left devastated after his daughter Stacey lost her fight with the disease, just five months after she was diagnosed.

Now he and his friend Marc Daniels are on a mission to climb Mount Kilimanjaro to raise vital funds for the British Skin Foundation and more importantly, raise awareness of how dangerous the sun and sun beds can be.

Stacey, 20, from Blackfield, had never been a sunbather, which has made her diagnosis much harder for her family to come to terms with, so they are determined to help other families avoid the same pain.

Simon said: “This type of cancer is preventable but you have to help yourselves.

“If you are fair skinned, have a lot of freckles and moles, don't be scared to go to the doctors and have them checked.

“Don't use sun beds and use a strong sun cream and avoid the midday sun even in the UK. Please be aware skin cancer is a killer.

The daring duo have already raise more than £2,000 but they need thousands more before July 26, to reach the minimum sponsorship if they are going to be able to do the climb in October.

To sponsor them visit www.justgiving.com/ewokking.