A WOMAN is taking on an epic adventure, crossing the Arctic with just a husky-pulled sled, in a bid to raise cash for a charity close to her heart.

Jenny Reid, 34, from Richmond, has set herself the challenge of driving a sled of dogs 260km across northern Scandinavia in temperatures of around -26 degrees, with the aim of raising at least £4,000 for Alzheimer’s Society.

Mrs Reid said she has always wanted to complete a fundraising challenge for the charity, which supported her mum when she was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s.

She said: “When I was eight my mum was diagnosed with the condition. She was only 49 and over the next 10 years she deteriorated. By the time I was 14, she didn’t know who I was.

“Although I had great family and my dad was amazing, it was really tough emotionally – every teenage girl needs her mum. She died when I was 18 and I have always wanted to support the charity."

But most fundraising ideas were not big enough for Mrs Reid – so she set her sights on an eight day trip across Arctic Scandinavia, taking in Norway and Sweden, with just a sledge and a pack of huskies.

She said: “I wanted to do something to support people in a similar situation to me – I wanted to really push myself doing something quite difficult and extreme that would draw attention to the charity.”

Mrs Reid will attempt to raise as much of her £4,000 target as she can before she embarks on the trip in March 2018 – and has already amassed £1,000 despite setting up her Just Giving account just days ago.

She will have to cover between 50lm and 75km a day over eight days, with no toilets or heating while she camps out overnight.

The trek will take her and the group travelling with her through northern Norway, to the Tri-Nations border, along the Swedish border, over mountains and through forests, until they reach Jukkasjarvi to spend the night in the Ice Hotel.

Mrs Reid will have a short time to get used to the dogs before heading off, so hopes to practice on dry land with a company in the UK.

She said: “I will have to do some training to prepare for it as I will have to work with the dogs, it isn’t just them pulling me, especially if we are going uphill.

“I’m doing a lot of endurance cardio and I have a trainer to get me ready.

“My family do think I’m crazy but are also really supportive, especially my husband and my dad, who understand why I want to do it.

“I’ve never done anything like this before but am always up for a challenge. I have completed Tough Mudder events and lived in Australia for a year but I wanted to push myself even more - I have the feeling this might not be the last adventure I do, I can see myself getting the bug for it. It is an incredible opportunity and I’m really excited, if a bit nervous too.”

To donate visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Jenny-Reid5.