ADVENTUROUS police officer Steve Haynes has won business support for his fund-raising trek to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro.

Det Con Haynes, based in Maidstone, hopes to raise at least £3,500 for children with cerebral palsy from his attempt to climb Tanzania's 19,000ft peak in June.

To secure his place on the sponsored trek, Steve had to promise SCOPE, the charity that helps people with cerebral palsy, that he would to raise at least £2,750.

But he was still short of the target when Personnel Health and Safety Consultants (PHSC) of Aylesford stepped in to hand Steve a cheque for £1,000.

Stephen King, managing director of the OFEX-listed firm that advises organisations on health and safety issues, said he was happy to back Steve's effort.

He said: "As a successful local business, we are always mindful of those less fortunate than ourselves.

"When we heard Steve's story, it captured our imagination. Our sponsorship will enable him to take on a personal challenge whilst benefiting those who face day-to-day challenges of an entirely different nature."

Steve, 43, is married with two children. He decided to help SCOPE because his cousin's twins Nicholas and Catherine, now aged four and a half, both suffer from cerebral palsy.

They were among 1,800 babies born every year with the condition. "They need a lot of care and I wanted to do something to help," he said.

Steve, a former Ministry of Defence photographer who has been with the Maidstone force for 13 years, faces altitude sickness and other hazards during the climb of Africa's highest mountain. He expects to take five days on the ascent and two days to come down.

He thanked PHSC for the donation: "That really secures it and it's made a big difference," he said.

But he does have one regret about the timing of the trip. It clashes with his 20th wedding anniversary. "I'll have to make up for it when I return home," he said.

*Anyone wanting to sponsor Steve can do so by sending cheques payable to SCOPE to him c/o Maidstone Police Station, Palace Avenue, Maidstone, ME15 6NF or visiting www.justgiving.com/kilimanjaro_2005.