A former soldier is appealing to businesses to sponsor him on a charity climb of the tallest mountain in Africa.

Shaun Sullivan, of Lady Winter Drive, Minster, is planning to tackle Mount Kilimanjaro next February to raise money for Help for Heroes, a cause close to his heart.

Before he can take part, however, he needs to raise £4,300 for the charity, just under half of which needs to be collected by November.

He has already put £400 of his own money towards it but he fears friends and family are not going to be enough to raise such a large amount.

The 28-year-old is offering businesses the chance to advertise themselves on his clothing and gear during the climb in exchange for donations.

He has already secured a year’s free membership at the gym at the Shurland Hotel in Eastchurch to help him train for the climb. Mr Sullivan was in the Princess of Wales Royal Regiment for five years and served his country overseas, including two seven-month tours of Iraq.

One of his good friends died in that conflict in 2004 and another was seriously injured while fighting in Afghanistan.

Mr Sullivan, who now works in immigration as a detainee custody officer, said: “The rehabilitation and the stuff that doesn’t actually come on the NHS is unbelievable.

“Help for Heroes help with things like that but they also help ex-soldiers find jobs so I thought I would do something for them.”

In 2011 Mr Sullivan raised £1,000 for the charity by running the London Marathon.

To donate money go to www.bmycharity.com/ShaunSullivan1

Businesses interested in sponsoring Mr Sullivan can email shaun_sully@hotmail.co.uk.