A CHARITY fundraiser who admits to being afraid of heights has tackled a five day trek along the Great Wall of China to raise more than £2,800 for the British Heart Foundation.

Wendy Fothergill, from Bedale, North Yorkshire, said it took some determination to finish the trek but it was worth the worry.

“Trekking miles up into the air with sheer drops at either side of a path about a foot wide was quite hard going," she said. "We also scaled an almost vertical set of steps which was an experience I won’t forget in a hurry, as well as the relief as I crawled on my hands and knees into the doorway of a tower at the top of the wall.

“Tramping step after step was physically and mentally challenging but by thinking who I was doing it for and why I was doing it - that kept me going."

She decided she wanted to do the challenge for the British Heart Foundation because coronary heart disease is the UK’s single biggest killer.

“I'm a great believer of helping others, if I can help save one child, or someone's mother, father, grandmother or grandfather in the future then I believe I've done my bit," added Ms Fothergill. "I just want to thank everyone who has sponsored me, my family and friends and with particular thanks to the staff at the Co-op in Bedale who continued to support me again and again."