FOUR lads who became friends when they met at Liskeard School and Community College are taking on a huge challenge this summer.

Joe Blank, Dean Starr, Ross Coombe and Will Woodman, will climb Kilimanjaro in Africa. Starting on July 5, they hope to reach the summit, a height of 5,895m, on day five.

Last summer the friends went to Scotland and climbed Ben Nevis, and before that they had completed the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme together.

Joe said: 'Once we had reached the top of Ben Nevis someone joked "Where next Kilimanjaro?" so that's what we're going to do.'

Describing themselves as four normal blokes who like a challenge, they have also recognised that their climb is a great opportunity to raise awareness about a good cause.

'We have decided to stick to our Cornish roots and support Rotary's Helston-based charity ShelterBox,' said Joe. 'They provide support to people in need all over the world whose lives have been torn apart by disaster, natural and man-made, providing them with a temporary home in a box. It's amazing work which reaches people across the world from the shores of Cornwall.'

The friends have named their climb 'Kili4Kernow' with the catchphrase 'We're going to the roof of Africa for ShelterBox because Cornwall can make a difference'. So far £400 has been pledged towards the hoped-for-total of £1,000. Anyone wishing to support them can go to http://www.justgiving.com/kili4kernow">www.justgiving.com/kili4kernow