Bristol woman on the trial of charity cash

A Bristol woman is preparing for the biggest challenge of her life – taking on the gruelling Inca Trail Challenge, in Peru.

Josie Palmer, 41, from Windmill Hill, will be pulling on her walking boots in October, treking to heights of 4,200m (13,780ft) to reach Machu Picchu, the Lost City of the Incas, in the Andes, for charity.

Ms Palmer, who works for an international removal company in Avonmouth, is taking on the challenge along with friend Donna Pointing, from Hanham.

Ms Pointing's partner Robert Derrick died of septicaemia in 2002, so the friends will be raising money in aid of the Meningitis Trust, in his memory.

Ms Palmer said: "Sadly, we lost Rob, Donna's long-term partner to the disease, six years ago, at just 33, and three years on from that, we then lost another female adult friend to a different strain of the disease.

"Both left young children missing a parent and partners without their loved one."

Ms Palmer, who also works part-time in a pub, said that she has been greatly moved by the "strong, kind and unwavering support" she has received from friends, her employers and work colleagues.

She said: "In such very difficult economic times as we are all currently experiencing, it brings sheer joy to see people join together with me and support such a worthwhile cause. It really does restore your faith in humanity and the community."

Ms Palmer has been organising fundraising events including lunches and clothes collections. She has also organised a fundraising boat trip on August 29 on The River Princess, a local river cruiser.

Ms Palmer hopes to raise more than £3,000 as part of her Peru trek. She said: "While I've raised £2,650 of that, I'd dearly love to surpass the target for the charity."

To sponsor her, go to www.justgiving.co.uk/josiepalmer.