A CANCER sufferer’s friend has conquered his fear of heights by climbing the huge roof of the O2 Arena.

Neil Howell, of Stour Road, Harwich, walked across the top of the 200ft-high iconic London venue to raise money for the Teenage Cancer Trust. About seven people aged between 13 and 24 are diagnosed with cancer daily in the UK.

Neil completed his terrifying task on his 44th birthday in honour of a friend in her early twenties who is in remission from acute lymphatic cancer.

He said: “I was glad to get back down – that is for sure. It was scary going up – I have no idea how long it took to get up there. It was terrifying.

When I got to the top it was amazing.

“The scariest bit was coming down the other side – I didn’t realise how steep it was until I was going down.”

Neil said he had been overwhelmed by howmuch was raised.

He said: “So far, it is more than £400 and I have a bit more to come in. I got about three quarters of the way up and I wanted to turn around.

“But our climb guide said to me ‘How much have you raised for charity?’ and I knew I had to keep going.

“I went up in the dark – so I can only imagine what it looks like in daylight, but I won’t be going up to see.

“I couldn’t relax until I got to the top. I was relieved to have made it up there. It was a great feeling and I had achieved something I did not think I could do.

“More importantly, I had justified every penny that had been donated for the trust. It was the most incredible experience and a birthday I will never forget.”

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