Manchester Evening News editor Paul Horrocks has conquered Mount Kilimanjaro.

The 51-year-old and his seven fellow adventurers reached the summit after a gruelling six-day trek up the 20,000ft peak to raise money for the Kirsty appeal for Francis House Children's Hospice.

Paul said it was an "emotional moment" as the group unfurled the 'MEN Kilimanjaro for Kirsty' banner at Uhura Peak.

He said: "There were a lot of tears as the yellow and black banner was rolled out in front of the Uhura Peak sign at 5,895m (19,340ft) above sea level."

During the trip the team faced huge physical demands and the threat of dehydration and altitude sickness, and trekked for 12 hours straight to reach the crater rim of Kilimanjaro before walking around the crater to reach the peak.

Paul said afterwards: "Looking back, it was the adventure of a lifetime - but not one to be taken lightly.

"I would love to return to Kilimanjaro National Park - but I would never go to the summit again."

Paul Horrocks' diary.

Day 7 - Millennium camp after successful summit ascent of Kilimanjaro to Uhura Peak

It was an emotional moment when we unfurled the 'MEN Kilimanjaro for Kirsty' banner on the rooftop of Africa. For all our group of eight fundraisers it was the pinnacle of all our training and the six gruelling days of trekking up Africa's highest mountain.

And we all made it for Francis House hospice in Didsbury - for some only just.

Not to have made the summit would have been understandable given the physical demands and the lack of oxygen, but incredibly disappointing.

There were a lot of tears as the yellow and black banner was rolled out in front of the Uhura Peak sign at 5,895m (19,340ft) above sea level.

The final summit ascent began at 10pm on Friday from Barafu camp. We tried to get a few hours' sleep, but everyone stayed awake waiting for our mountain guides to rouse us.

We donned arctic clothing, headlamps and got our final instructions and medical checks from our chief guide Elias Massawe. And so it began.

The first hour was over rocks at a hard pace. Ahead of us a steady stream of other climbers could be identified by twinkling headlamps slowly trekking up the mountain.

Then came the first sign of people coming back down, unable to cope with the effort or altitude sickness.

I was struggling after just four hours. Frequent stops for a breather and words of encouragement from team-mates still left me exhausted. At about 4am we saw a meteor scream across the African night sky.

Elias moved me behind him in our single file. He told me: "Think positive, and you will make it." By then my fuel tank and reserve was empty. I was running on pure adrenalin.

He said that by 6.30am - sunrise - I would be energized "like a raging bull". I felt like a sick goat when the first sun rays emerged above Mt Mawenzi.

I had been on my knees several times and the urge to go down was huge. But the determination inside was still strong.

My team-mates and colleagues at the MEN Mark Rix and Dave Healey formed a protective shield and pushed me forward, picking me up whenever I fell.

You learn a lot about yourself on a climb like this. Where you thought the limits were - and how you go beyond.

We scrambled up the lava scree slope to Stella point at the entrance to the crater of Kibo and with metres to go, I was down again saying to the group to leave me there until they returned.

Elias was having none of it. He said: "Paul, if you lie there, you will never touch the sky on top of Kilimanjaro."

That was enough to get me standing again and we made it to the crater. But that was not the end of it. Uhura Peak - in Swahili Uhura means freedom after Tanzania's independence in 1961 - was another hour's walk.

More uphill slogging and when I dropped to my knees again, Elias gave me oxygen which boosted my energy. But I also realised this was dangerous territory. People die on top of Kilimanjaro. He also radioed the porters to have a stretcher ready to ferry me back down to a safer altitude level once we had reached the highest point.

In the event it was not necessary. The elation and the adrenalin rush boosted my spirits and when we unfurled the banner it was a huge emotional rush. I had just received a text message from my wife Linda on holiday in China and my daughter-in-law Sara who is expecting our next grandchild in September. That was more than enough to turn on the tears.

Looking into the crater, now just brown dust, you could only imaging the fire and lava flow that this volcano once spewed out to create its enormous height.

Then we descended quickly. Almost skiing through the volcanic dust in our hiking boots. What had taken 11 hours to ascend, took two to come down.

When we safely reached the Millennium camp, the porters sang a song to the gods of the mountain. One of our team, Greater Manchester fireman Phil Davenport battled to the summit despite the altitude which sapped his strength so much his legs were shaking.

He said later he wouldn't do it again for a £1m - and this from a man who has been a triple fire service triathlon champion.

Looking back, it was the adventure of a lifetime - but not one to be taken lightly. Two South African climbers died on the Western breach while we were trekking. We spoke to a team of scientists from Manchester University carrying out research on trekkers on the most popular Marangu route and they were horrified at the poor level of preparation and understanding of altitude sickness.

The MEN Kilimanjaro climb has raised more than £70,00 for Kirsty's Appeal for Francis House. The messages of support were a massive boost. I have enjoyed writing these diaries and taking the pictures of the incredible scenery. Tanzania is a beautiful country and the people are so friendly. I would love to return to Kilimanjaro National Park - but I would NEVER go to the summit again.

And I'm now going for my first shower and shave in a week.

The team was fireman Phil Davenport, MEN deputy postal manager Dave Healey, restaurant owner Hervey Magnall, business consultant Phil Tonge, marathon runner Ian Marshall, MEN deputy managing director Mark Rix, his brother Dave Rix and MEN editor Paul Horrocks.