A HALE woman will climb Africa’s highest peak for charity after her mum was diagnosed with a brain tumour.

Nico Byron, of Bold Street, will trek up Mount Kilimanjaro, a 19,330ft freestanding peak in Tanzania, for BASIC (Brain and Spinal Injury Charity).

Talking about her mum, Linda, Nico, 32, said: “We nearly lost her, but thankfully after a long rehabilitation she has made a 100 per cent recovery from the operation she endured.

“Having lost my father to cancer six years ago, I decided to do something as positive as possible to raise money to support others.”

Nico’s brother-in-law, Simon Byron-Keeler, will also tackle the six-and-a-half day climb in August with her to raise funds for Macmillan Cancer Support.

Nico added: “Neither of us are regular walkers, this will be a very hard physical and emotional trek, but we know we will be helping so many people so we are training and fundraising hard.

“We need as much support as possible, either financially, fundraising, or even lending us some equipment.”

Once Nico finishes the challenge she will visit an orphanage in Moshi, Tanzania, to donate wipes, clothing, toys and baby products for Light In Africa, a not for profit organisation that cares for sick, abandoned and handicapped children.

This weekend Nico and Simon, who aim to raise £8,000, will tackle Ingleborough, Whermside and Pen-y-ghent - three peaks in the Yorkshire Dales - in under 12 hours, covering 5,000ft over 26 miles in preparation for Africa.

To help the plucky pair go to either justgiving.com/nicosclimbingkili or justgiving.com/simonkilitrek