Alarm singer aims high with tour

Peters plans to play Snowdon, the Empire State Building and Everest

Rock musician and cancer survivor Mike Peters has announced a series of fund-raising concerts that will put him on top of Wales - and the world.

His Snowdon Rocks tour includes a June walk to the summit of Wales' highest mountain to hold a live session.

The Alarm singer, who has beaten cancer twice since 1995, aims to hold another at the Everest base camp in October.

Peters, 48, hopes to begin his ambitious tour with a gig on top of New York's Empire State building in April.

Peters, from Dyserth, Denbighshire, announced his Snowdon Rocks fundraiser at the North Wales Cancer Centre, at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd, Bodelwyddan, where he is being treated for his second battle with the disease.

Wearing trademark green combat fatigues - after a faith healer told him green was a healing colour - Peters said: "I believe I will not be the only person to walk through the doors to get treated.

"I think everybody in north Wales will come here at some time, either as a visitor or a carer or even as a patient.

'Inspired'

"When cancer knocks at your door, people do rally round. The staff here have inspired me."

In 2005, the singer was diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CCL), a cancer of white blood cells.

He is in remission but is still undergoing a three-year course of drug therapy.

Peters, who founded The Alarm in Rhyl in 1981, first beat leukaemia 12 years ago.

A keen mountain walker, he has since founded the Love Hope Strength Foundation to thank the medical world for the research and support he has received.

Peters with his wife, Jules, and their youngest son, Evan

On Saturday 23 June, he plans a sponsored walk to Snowdon's summit, accompanied by some of the medical staff who have helped treat him, as well as fans and supporters.

He will also play an acoustic concert at Rhyl Town Hall on Friday 22 June and another at Y Galeri in Caernarfon following the Snowdon trek.

The Friday concert will be in aid of the North Wales Cancer Treatment Centre at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd.

The Caernarfon concert will raise funds for the Alaw Unit at Ysbyty Gwynedd, Bangor, where Peters is currently undergoing treatment.

The first event on the fundraising calendar is still in the planning stages but is said to include a group of "celebrity" musicians who hope to join him climbing the stairwell of the Empire State Building on 16 April.

Peters said security officials at the tallest building in New York City have given him permission to hold an acoustic and unplugged concert on the roof of the building - once they have carried their instruments to the top themselves.