THERE’s no such word as can’t, and he’d rather die on the slopes of Everest trying to raise money to help others than in a hospital bed, says a father-of-two who has terminal heart failure and only months to live.

Now Nick Jones, from Westbury, is pressing on with his plans to climb Mount Everest with his new celebrity friend Peter Andre, raise money for bereaved children.

Nick Jones, from Westbury, was diagnosed with malignant hypertension, a condition which attacks the heart and internal organs, after suffering a stroke in 2012.

Having lost both his parents to heart conditions, Mr Jones

He set up the Nick Jones Foundation for Bereaved Children last month at a ball in honour of his own children, Cameron, 15 and Lara, 13.

Singer and TV personality Peter Andre made a guest appearance, and has since got to know Mr Jones and his family and become an advocate for the Foundation.

On the night the pair jokily made a pledge to climb Mount Everest in October to raise further funds - and now the scheme is going ahead.

Mr Jones, who is being cared for by Dorothy House end of life planning, said: “We have done a lot of work so far and that work isn’t isn’t stopping.

“I am still alive and I am still pushing and I will be every day.

“Whether I am here or not the climb will happen, I am fighting this every day and I will be there for the climb.

“I have heart failure and a whole list of things wrong with me but I am doing it, there is no such word as can’t.

“It’s not about me. Death is a horrible thing and I am here for every child, teenager or anyone that has lost a loved one.

“I’ve suffered through bereavement and it’s something that me and my family know a lot about.

“Whether I am here or not, my charity is about loss, and going through horrific things that take years and years to get over.

“I’ve been there, having lost my parents to heart conditions, and sadly my kids will go through that too. It is these things that bring us all together.

“In five months myself and some friends along with Mr Andre will be climbing Mount Everest, and I want to push my fundraising to the moon.”

Joining them on their climb are close friends Julian Lipputt, Matt Jones, Sean Mitchel, Sam Short ans Stu Cantello.

Mr Jones added: “I have a great group doing the climb with me, they are all close friends and great supporters.

“Julian has climbed Everest before, so he is our wealth of knowledge.

“I will certainly be getting past base camp, and I will be going as far as physically possible.

“I would rather die out there helping other people than die in a hospital.

To support the Foundation, go to www.gofundme.com/NickJonesFoundation