ONE WOMAN is proving that no mountain is too high when it comes to raising money for a local charity.

Karen Willmington and 12 other people are taking on the Weldmar Hospice Mont Blanc Trek.

The five-day trip will take the group from the massif of Mont Blanc through the seven valleys which extend through France, Italy and Switzerland.

Karen, a 63 year-old gardener from Godmanstone, said:“Weldmar is a very special place and being run by very compassionate people, who make everyone's lives as comfortable as possible in their times of need."

In the past, Karen has completed the London marathon and Weymouth half marathon as well as other personal challenges for charity.

Karen said that this trek will be in memory of her father and sister who she lost to cancer and for her friend who is making her final arrangements with the Weldmar hospice.

Karen said: “We don’t know who’s going to need help in the future and Weldmar provide such love and care- the charity needs all the help it can get.

"I do these things because I enjoy them, but it also helps people.

"I might enjoy them but at the end of the day, you come back with the money to help these charities because I think if I ever needed help then I would like people to help me as well."

Matt Smith, community and events fundraising manager at Weldmar will also be taking part in the trek with the group.

Matt has embarked on all the treks that the charity has organised over previous years.

He said that he enjoyed watching the journey people embark on from when they sign up to when they complete the challenge.

The Mont Blanc challenge is the third trip that has been organised to raise funds for Weldmar, with the two previous treks taking place in Iceland and the Sahara Desert.

Matt will be keeping a blog of the trip so that friends and family members of the group can track their progress.

Matt said: "For some people, the fundraising part is the biggest part of this challenge. They have got to raise money to take part in the trip and I think for a lot of people that's quite daunting in itself, never mind that you're taking on this kind of adventure.

"It's a once in a life time opportunity and the team should be really proud."

Planning ahead of the trip which takes place in August, Matt said that Weldmar is taking suggestions for the next trek via the website at weld-hospice.org.uk/challengesurvey

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