Last updated at 16:53, Tuesday, 16 October 2012

TWO sisters are planning to climb to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro to raise funds for breast cancer charities.

Lara Grant and her sister, Sophie Kitson, are training and fundraising for the Sisters to the Summit trek in March next year. Mrs Grant, 35, said the campaign was close to her heart. She added: “My sister has just recovered from breast cancer. She was lucky they caught it early. She’s getting the final checks to she can do the climb with me.”

The sisters, who grew up in Ulverston, have started training for the climb and have joined gyms to boost their fitness.

Mrs Grant describes her 41-year-old sister Mrs Kitson, who has been living in San Francisco for 17 years, as having a head start in the training. She said: “Sophie is more active than me!”

In preparation for the climb, the mother of four has been receiving advice from friends who have recently completed the trek.

Mrs Grant, from Barrow, said she had been advised to improve her fitness in the run up to the climb to avoid sickness.

Mrs Grant, who runs the Pawfect Pets micro-chipping business, said that she had big ambitions for the money she hopes to raise for the cause. She said: “I’ve got to raise £3,500 for the climb. I’ve got six more months to go to do it.”

She is holding a fundraising music event at the Nines, Barrow, in the hope of securing more money for the charity on November 1.

She added: “There is a really good mix of local businesses who have donated for the raffle from meal vouchers to smoothie makers.”

She said: “My plan is to sell tickets for the event and the ticket is your raffle ticket. About 80 tickets have been sold so far.”

The £10 tickets will be for sale on the door from 7.30pm on the night.

First published at 16:42, Tuesday, 16 October 2012
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk