TWENTY-stone Kevin Steele is renowned among his family and friends for his crazy charity schemes.

His latest idea is to climb Mount Kilimanjaro wearing a blindfold to raise money for blind children.

The 51-year-old British Airways worker is aiming to raise £20,000 for the Royal National Institute for the Blind and the Tanzanian Blind Association.

Father-of-two Kevin, of Golf Links Road, Ferndown, will be accompanied up the 20,000ft mountain by a RNIB guide.

He decided to undertake the RNIB-backed challenge after a friend began to lose his sight.

Joker Kevin's previous crazy challenges for charity include running the Race for Life in drag. He jets off on November 29.

While on the 10-day trip, he will be expected to survive on Mopani worms - the staple diet of the locals.

He said: "I am not a total stranger to mountain climbing. I did do the Three Peaks' Challenge. The thing I am most worried about is the obvious - losing my footing.

"I am doing it for three reasons. The first is because I am a complete idiot, secondly because I think it is important to experience the sensory deprivation of blind people, and thirdly to raise money. My family tried to talk me out of it but now they're very supportive."

Half the money raised will go to the RNIB Sunshine House School in Northwood, near Heathrow, which provides specialist education and care for visually-impaired children.

The cash will go towards paying for a special hoist to lift disabled children in and out of the swimming pool.

The remaining £10,000 will go to a hostel for blind children near Mount Kilimanjaro and run by the Tanzanian Blind Association.

Wife Paula, 50, said: "I am very supportive now but will be glad when he is home and safe.

"This is just the latest one of his ideas. He is always up to stuff. He is an extrovert, outgoing and extremely generous person.

"He has raised quite a bit of money for charity before but this is the most adventurous thing he's done."

People who want to sponsor Kevin can donate online at www.justgiving.com or by sending cheques to Kevin Steele, 12 Graham Court, Northolt, Middle-sex, UB5 4HT, or Tim Grover, Royal National Institute for the Blind, 105 Judd Street, London, WC1H 9NE.

People should make out cheques to RNIB and write the word "Kilimanjaro" on the back.