A group of Bradford fundraisers have clocked up £25,000 for a humanitarian charity by scaling Africa's highest mountain.

The nine-strong group, which included the Shah family of Fairweather Green, spent months training for the trek up Mount Kilimanjaro.

Group leader Satish Shah said the group was thrilled to have taken part in the trek and raised so much money for SEWA International, who will be using the money to fund rural schools, drinking water projects and children affected by AIDS in Kenya and Tanzania.

Although only seven of the nine taking part made it to Gilman's Point on the mountain, one of the summit points, they are all delighted with their efforts particularly as some of them had to contend with mountain sickness.

Mr Shah's wife Nirmala, who was one of those unable to make it to the summit because of mountain sickness, said: "The thin air meant that after every three steps I had to rest. The lack of oxygen was inducing my body into sleep mode.

"I gave my best but had to turn back even though I could see Gilman's Point just 200 metres away. Our leader's decision was valid as it may have taken a further two hours to make it.

"It was still worth the effort and is a huge achievement."

Mr Shah's three daughters Kalpa, 21, Rakhi, 19, and Shaila, 17, all made it to Gilman's Point.

Kalpa said: "We almost sleep-walked the final two hours, as our brains shut down due to lack of oxygen.

"The guides played an essential role in encouraging us to continue to reach Gilman's Point. They were right - it was worth it!"

The other members of the group who made it to the 18,640ft-high Gilman's Point were Dinesh Shah, 58, Ashwin Mistry, 52, and Kamlesh Patel, 44.

Rajnikanth Parmar, 56, was just 200 metres short of Gilman's Point when he had to turn back, but he managed to raise £4,500.

e-mail: sunita.bhatti@bradford.newsquest.co.uk