When you’ve already jumped out of a plane and completed a sky dive for charity it’s quite difficult to match the challenge for your next fundraising venture.

But Hetty Roach, from Appleton, will be climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in Tazania – the highest single free-standing mountain in the world – in October.

Together with her cousin Olivia Hughes, and three friends Charlotte Platt, Taylor O’Neill and Tierney Gilson, the 24-year-old will be climbing 5,895 metres to the top of Africa’s highest peak in October to raise money for Muscular Distrophy UK.

Hetty’s cousin and Olivia’s brother Ed Hughes has Duchenne’s Muscular Dsytrophy (DMD), which is a rare genetic condition that weakens the muscles and affects the ability to carry out daily tasks.

Each of the women needs to raise £4,800 for the charity and they have just under six months to reach their target.

Hetty, who went to Bridgewater High School, said: “It might seem a little bit crazy to take on this challenge and it might not be most people’s ideal trip, but we wanted to push ourselves and we’re doing it for an amazing cause.

“Although there are many difficult times, Ed has a loving support network and access to the best possible care and innovative technologies.

“There is currently no cure for DMD but there has been promising research into gene therapy and repair.”

The challenging seven-day trek will involve camping on the mountain, getting up at 3am or 4am each day to complete between eight and ten hours of hiking with temperatures dropping close to zero as they near the summit.

The group will also have to deal with changes in altitude the higher they climb.

Hetty, who works as an IT partner manager and marketing co-ordinator in Preston Brook, said: “Despite Ed having DMD, he is one of the bravest and most positive and inspiring people I know.

“He continues to live life without limits regardless of his own physical limitations and he tackles life’s challenges head on.

“Muscular Distrophy UK is a charity that is very close to mine and Olivia’s hearts.”

Hetty and her friends initially wanted to do a charity bungee jump last year but Covid-19 restrictions meant they had to postpone the plans.

They are now hoping to complete the daredevil drop next year.

To make a donation to Hetty’s fundraising campaign visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/hetty-roach1