A WOMAN has raised more than £3,000 for a North-East hospice after setting herself the challenge of completing a seven-day trek in Tanzania.

Sheila Blenkin, 48, will set off on January 29, to take part in the Lemosho Trail, with Action Challenge, which involves climbing more than 19,000 feet to get to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro.

The clinical research associate, from Bishop Auckland, hopes to raise about £4,000 for the town’s Butterwick Hospice.

And the town’s businesses and schools have gotten behind her with Bishop Barrington School’s netball team, which Ms Blenkin was a former member of, raising £250 by challenging their teachers to a netball match just before Christmas.

The team handed over the cheque when Ms Blenkin visited the school today (January 8), where she was also reunited with her former PE teacher, Linda Johnson, who she has not seen for 32 years.

The grandmother has also completed three marathon walks over the last ten months and has been walking about 40 miles a week in a bid to prepare for the challenge, which involves travelling through rainforest, over plateaus and along valleys.

She said the trek was her toughest challenge yet but that she was excited, especially because she would be supporting a local cause.

“I have no doubt it will be the hardest challenge I have ever faced and way more difficult than my last big charity gig of clearing the beaches and building new houses in Sri Lanka after the Tsunami,” she said.

“This is a personal challenge for me to complete before I reach the big 50, which of course means that I have over a year to reach summit, but it is also for a greater cause.”

Ms Blenkin is funding the trip herself so all the profits go to the charity which provides pain and symptom control, end of life, respite, day and home care, complementary therapies, bereavement care and family support free of charge to children and adults.

Hospice fundraiser, Laura Douthwaite, said: “It is fantastic that Sheila is taking on this challenge to raise funds for Butterwick Hospice.

“As well as working and training she has arranged several events over the last year including a non-uniform day at Cocktail Hill Infant School and charity day at Bishop Barrington to boost her fundraising and so far she has raised over £3,000 which is a fantastic achievement.

“Thank you for your commitment and we wish you all the best with your trek.”

To sponsor Ms Blenkin visit justgiving.com/Sheila-Blenkin/