Heywood woman to take on challenge of a lifetime

Fiona Smith

A woman from Heywood is preparing for one of the biggest challenges of her life – a nineteen day trek to the Mount Everest Base Camp – to raise money for two charities.

Fiona Smith, 27, will begin the expedition in March 2012 and is hoping to raise a staggering £5,545 to split equally between Dementia UK and Help for Heroes.

Miss Smith, a council worker, explained the reason for her trip: “I wanted to raise the money for charity and I wanted to do something big – I felt I needed a challenge in my life and this is a massive challenge.”

She decided to set her fundraising target to £5,545 because she will be trekking to altitudes of 5545metres.

“My grandma was the inspiration for this trip,” said Miss Smith, “She was an amazing lady, who unfortunately spent her last years suffering from Dementia, which is why I choose to fundraise for Dementia UK, which is a charity that offers a wide variety of specialist support and training to professionals, carers and sufferers, to improve the quality of life for people with dementia.

“The second charity I want to support is Help for Heroes, I feel we, as a nation, have a duty to improve the lives of the brave men and women who keep us safe at night, and subsequently sustain life long injuries and disabilities.”

Miss Smith said the trip is as much about raising money for the charities as it is for raising awareness.

To sponsor Miss Smith visit: www.virginmoneygiving.com/FionasTrekToMountEverest