RICHARD Parks left for Alaska yesterday confident his life will be safe in the hands of close friend and fellow climber Matt Parkes.

The former Newport Gwent Dragons player, 33, plans to start his climb of North America's highest peak, Mount Denali, on Sunday, despite suffering from a frostbitten right toe.

His £1 million fundraiser had been in doubt because of the condition he picked up on Mount Everest last month.

But, after 16 days of intensive treatment and consultations with experts, he decided the show must go on despite being told his toe wouldn't be properly healed for months.

He said: "This climb wasn't a decision I could make alone as there will be two of us going up on the mountain. I have the injury, but it will be both of us exposed. Both of our lives are in each other's hands."

Matt Parkes from Leeds is part of the team at Jagged Globe, which provide expeditions up some of the world's most demanding mountains. Parks described him as a "good friend and strong climber".

Despite the fact he risks contracting the potentially life-threatening blood poisoning septicaemia in his toe, Parks said a visit to Marie Curie's hospice in Penarth strengthened his resolve to continue.

He is aiming to raise £1 million for the charity and said: "I am going through a lot, but there are people and their families out there climbing their own mountains every day as a result of cancer. I see their strength and it inspires me to keep going."

Parks hopes to start his climb of the 6,194 metres high Mount Denali on Sunday and depending on the weather, reach the summit in the next two weeks.

That would leave him with just Russia's Mount Elbrus to conquer to become the first man to climb the highest mountain on each of the world's seven continents and venture to the North and South poles in a calendar year.

You can donate or follow him at 737challenge.com