Fundraiser Anita Hodgson was overcome with emotion as she reached the top of Ben Nevis in a climb aimed at highlighting the work of the charity that supported her husband.

The 51-year-old of Woodland Park, Calne, organised the challenge with a group of family and friends who together raised £3,500 for the Urostomy Association, which helped her husband Andrew after he underwent surgery for bladder cancer.

Mr Hodgson, 61, who was a technical manager at Chippenham’s Olympiad Leisure Centre before he took early retirement, has now fully recovered from the disease.

He was diagnosed with cancer in 2011 and went through a course of chemotherapy at Bath’s Royal United Hospital before undergoing an operation to have his bladder removed at Southmead Hospital, Bristol.

Mrs Hodgson said: “The idea of the climb was to raise the profile of the charity because it’s not something that people regularly talk about.

“I became involved with the charity because it was so useful to us. It’s such a small charity so people don’t know it’s there to help them.”

Ten women, including Mrs Hodgson’s sister Claire McAtear, 49, and her niece Stephanie Mundy, 22, who both live in Scotland, climbed Ben Nevis on Saturday, June 8.

They were sponsored by Fascia Graphics, based at the Bath Road Industrial Estate, Chippenham. Managing director Paul Bennett provided T-shirts and had champagne and hot food waiting for them on their return.

Mrs Hodgson said: “It was very emotional. I phoned Andrew from the top and he was very proud. Afterwards we had a bit of a celebration.

All the girls funded themselves, all the accommodation and all the flights, so I would like to thank them.”

To donate to the group, visit www.justgiving.com/Waterlily