REDDITCH businessman and adventurer Dean Attwell has raised more than £20,000 for Cancer Research UK by trekking to the North Pole.

Walking for up to 10 hours a day in freezing conditions, Dean, CEO and co-founder of Oakland International, and his team reached the North Pole on April 20 after displaying amazing grit and determination.

The challenge had been going to plan, apart from a massive open water lead which they encountered, just two miles short of the North Pole, and with no visible way around it.

Although, even that didn't stop him reaching his goal.

After undertaking the greatest challenge of his life, Dean said: “I am tremendously grateful to everyone who has been so generous with their donations, help and support throughout; before with my training, fundraising, during my trip and the encouragement and the support of the Polar Explorers Expedition team and our guides, and following my return home as donations continued to come in.

“Thank you to everyone for supporting me and Cancer Research UK.”

100 per cent of donations raised from the expedition have been given directly to the charity.

Jane Redman, Cancer Research UK spokesman for the West Midlands, said: “Our supporters come up with some wonderful ways of raising funds for crucial research and make a real difference in the fight against cancer.

"Every step Dean took in his trek to the North Pole to raise over £20,000 will help to bring forward the day when all cancers are cured.

“It is thanks to supporters like Dean that survival rates have doubled since the early 1970s and Cancer Research UK’s work has been at the heart of that progress.”