A CIRENCESTER do-gooder who climbs mountains every year to raise money for Teenager Cancer Trust has raised a record amount for the charity this year.

John Plant, 78, of Victoria Road, will be climbing four volcanoes in Nicaragua - one volcano a day - this year.

What makes his trek so special this year is that he has raised more than £5,000 - £2,000 more than what he usually raises in a year.

John will be starting his trek on November 4 and returning to Cirencester on November 16.

John, who has lived in Cirencester for 51 years and had taught in Deer Park School for 33 years, has spent the last 18 years of his life raising money for Teenage Cancer Trust.

He said: "I have taught teenagers all my life and I knew some teenagers who died of cancer."

John's wife, Anne, was also a teacher who taught at Watermoor Primary School. She died of cancer in 1998.

Since then, he has travelled all over the world for a good cause, conquering Everest, Mount Kenya, and trekking in Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador and Peru.

To raise in excess of £2,000 each year, John makes chairs, and does odd jobs for people: such as house sitting and fixing people's gardens. 

He also receives donations from neighbours and friends, and local groups which he gives talks to, such as the Tuesday group in Stratton, the Welsh Society in Stratton and the Stroke Club in Cirencester.

This year, staff at Cafe Mosaic in Cirencester also gave John, who is a regular customer at the cafe, a helping hand.

Lesley Hinsley, 54, and Becky Collier, 46, took part in the Cricklade Half Marathon earlier this month, raising more than £2,000.