A DARING group of friends is preparing to scale Mount Kilimanjaro in aid of different charities - including St Leonard's Hospice in York.

Among the group is Ann Cumberland, of Acaster Malbis, near York, who is raising funds for the hospice in Tadcaster Road, York, and Dorothy Holmes, of York, who is raising funds for National Children's Homes.

The pair are in training for the feat, which will see them try to conquer the 19,500ft summit of Africa's highest mountain, starting on February 6.

Ann, who works at Halifax Bank plc in Leeds, hopes to raise £2,000, which will enable St Leonard's to buy new fire-retardant bedding to match the new dcor in the hospice.

She is no stranger to arduous walking. A keen member of the Ramblers Association, she reached an altitude of 17,500ft last year when walking in Nepal.

Ann said: "After finding Nepal a wonderful experience I decided that I needed a new challenge so my friends and I decided to try something a little higher and aim for the top of Kilimanjaro!

"I was also keen to support a local charity, and St Leonard's, which cares for so many local people with life-threatening illnesses, was the obvious choice."

Janet Morley, fundraising manager at St Leonard's Hospice said: '"Ann has set herself a wonderful challenge with her climb up Kilimanjaro, and we are delighted that she's doing it to raise funds for St Leonard's."

Anyone who wants to sponsor Ann can contact her on 01904 708479.

Updated: 11:41 Saturday, January 25, 2003