Amputee hero set for charity climb

Thursday 22nd October 2009, 9:29AM BST.

Stuart Trow A Shropshire army veteran who lost part of his leg in conflict was today preparing to jet off to Africa to climb one of the world’s tallest mountains for charity.

Stuart Trow, from north Shropshire, is due to tackle Mount Kilimanjaro as part of a 10-day expedition in aid of the charity Help for Heroes, which helps injured military personnel.

The former SAS and Parachute Regiment member has so far secured about £15,000 in sponsorship for taking on the challenge.

He said he will be ascending the famous peak in Tanzania as part of a 16-strong group which includes the founders of Help for Heroes and other military personnel injured in combat.

He said he will be joined by a blind companion and other amputees for the gruelling trek to the summit, which stands 4,600 metres above sea level.

“It’s smashing to think it’s finally here,” said Mr Trow. “I’m not too nervous because there’s a few of us doing it together.

“I’ve been training really hard but this week I’ve tried to ease off a bit and bulk up before the expedition.”

Mr Trow, a 32-year-old father-of-two, was injured four weeks after being deployed to Afghanistan in the wake of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York on September 11, 2001.

He is expected to tackle the peak wearing a prosthetic limb.

To sponsor Mr Trow visit www.justgiving.com/heroclimb