BRAVE Richard Parks, pictured on the summit of Everest, is to continue his £1 million mountaineering challenge despite admitting it poses a threat to his life.

The former Newport Gwent Dragons player, 33, flies to Alaska today ready to climb North America’s highest peak, Mount Denali, despite suffering from a frostbitten right big toe. He said: “Every mountain I climb there is a risk I could pay the highest price. The toe just ups the ante.”

Mr Parks, of Ridgeway, Newport, picked up the condition while climbing Mount Everest last month as part of his 737 Challenge to climb the highest mountain on each of the world’s seven continents and venture to the North and South Pole in seven months.

He has successfully climbed five of the mountains and tackled the two poles, but was left with the agonising decision whether to call off the challenge with just Denali and Russia’s Mount Elbrus left.

Despite intensive treatment over the last 16 days, Parks admits his right big toe won’t be fully healed for months, saying “the risks are high” and he may pay “the ultimate price”.

But, he added: “To have finished now would be devastating,”

saying he is confident he can protect his toe.

He said the best case scenario is that conditions are good and he returns with only minimal damage to his toe.

But, if conditions are hostile, his toe could either refreeze or become infected with life-threatening blood poisoning, septicaemia.

Parks described 6,194-metre Denali as “a brutal mountain”

and said it would have been the hardest part of the challenge anyway, with him weak mentally and physically from the past six months.

He said: “I will be in a lot of pain. I am now as the nerves have begun to regenerate, but I am prepared for this.

“I haven’t made this decision lightly, and am confident I can get up and down safely.”

Parks aims to start the climb with friend Matt Parkes on Sunday and summit in the next two weeks.

He is aiming to raise £1 million for Marie Curie Cancer.

You can donate at www.

737challenge.com