A TERMINALLY ill man is determined to ascend Black Combe one last time next Sunday - and everyone is invited to cheer for him at the summit.

John Young, 74, was a plasterer in Millom for over 50 years before retiring.

Mr Young has lived with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) for 15 years. When he began to cough up blood he assumed he had another infection, but was diagnosed with lung cancer last summer.

The cancer was shown to be in his ‘good’ lung and was inoperable.

After a brutal three and a half months of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, the tumour shrunk considerably, but a bad reaction to immunotherapy meant that he could not continue with it.

During the grips of the pandemic, a scan revealed that the cancer had grown and was now considered aggressive. A new option offered the possibility of six to 18 months to live, but after suffering a severe allergic reaction, another dose could prove fatal.

His son, Trevor Young said: “He has fought this all the way and we couldn’t be more proud of him."

He is raising money for Millom Hospital, Millom Community Track Fund, Furness General Hospital and Royal Preston Hospital.

Trevor said: “We would like as many people on the top to welcome my dad. It is 600m high and space vertically is considered to be 100km from earth that means we need 166.66 individuals to climb Black Combe to collectively climb into space.”

Fundraising buckets are situated around shops in Millom. Meet at the summit at 1pm. Visit: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/trevor-young