The group of 20, which includes Sunderland police chief Superintendent Dave Pryer and Tyne and Wear Fire boss John Allison, will be putting their best foot forward when they begin their challenge on April 16.

During their seven-day climb, the team hopes to raise £30,000 for charities, including Grace House Hospice, The Fire Fighters Charity, Scope and Diabetes UK and the African Black Conservation Project (ABCP) in Tanzania.

Canon Stephen Taylor, head of the Sunderland Partnership leading the charity trek, said: "The challenge represents an active expression of the Sunderland Partnership at work strengthening the links and networks between organisations that make up the city.

"It's a huge honour for those individuals taking part and will represent a major effort in terms of fund-raising and support for the teams they work in and the organisations they represent.

"By committing to this challenge we aim to raise as much money as possible for our chosen charities both here and in Tanzania."

The charity challenge up Africa's highest mountain, which stands at just under 20,000 ft, was officially launched this week by Mayor of Sunderland Coun Dennis Richardson at Herrington Country Park.

The Tanzanian Defence Attaché, Colonel Pelgreen Mrope, attended the city's Remembrance Day Service this year and met ity chiefs to see how they could forge international links with Tanzania.

Due to the extent of deforestation in Tanzania the ice cap on Mount Kilimanjaro is melting and raising cash for the ABCP will help to reverse this process.

The group taking part in the climb includes members from City Hospitals NHS Trust, Primary Care Trust, City of Sunderland College, Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue, Northumbria Police, Sunderland City Council, gentoo, Sunderland arc and the Sunderland Community Network.

Employees from Grundfos and Liebherr have also pledged their allegiance.

In a bid to boost the cash raised, the group will also be holding a series of fund-raisers in the run-up to their climb, including treasure hunts and supermarket bag packs.