A seasoned mountaineer is this week taking on one of the world's most challenging climbs in aid of British war veterans.

Keith Breslauer has already scaled some of the world's most difficult peaks, Mont Blanc and the Matterhorn among them.

On Sunday, Mr Breslauer flew to the States for his climb of El Capitan in California's Yosemite National Park.

He has been joined on the expedition by two French climbers he has regularly skied with.

A managing partner at Patron Capital and a former St John's Wood Synagogue chairman, Mr Breslauer is a dedicated philanthropist. He is a senior patron of charities including the Community Security Trust and One Family UK.

It's a pet peeve that we don’t have a prayer for the forces

Last year, he raised £22,000 for Camp Simcha by climbing Mount Kilimanjaro with his daughter Ariana, who was then 15.

Mr Breslauer wants to highlight the contribution of British servicemen. He recalls a prayer for the armed forces being recited in synagogue when he was growing up in New York, but feels the UK does not celebrate its troops as much.

"To me it's always been a pet peeve that we don't say it in services here. My goal is to bring this to the public's attention and raise a significant amount of money."

More than £20,000 is targeted from his efforts and those of 21 disabled war veterans who are climbing or cycling up Mount Snowdon as part of the fundraiser.

Mr Breslauer has given himself 10 days to reach the summit, although if weather conditions are favourable, he expects to make it to the top in four.