A GROUP of women are to trek across the Himalayas to raise money for charity. The daring dozen, all aged between 40 and 60, will take on the challenge to support children in Nepal who suffer from thalassaemia, a form of anaemia. Trip organiser, Maureen Do

A GROUP of women are to trek across the Himalayas to raise money for charity.

The daring dozen, all aged between 40 and 60, will take on the challenge to support children in Nepal who suffer from thalassaemia, a form of anaemia.

Trip organiser, Maureen Donnison, a retired teacher of Oaklands, Welwyn, said the condition was affecting many youngsters in the region.

She said: "Children have to travel for over eight hours to the nearest hospital.

"If they can get treatment, many can live long healthy lives.

"Any amount of money we can raise will help their situation."

Other Times Territory women taking part are Jane Newbold, Goska Lloyd and Ros Wilkins, all of Welwyn, Susie Dickson of Knebworth, and Joanna Coker, who works as a nurse at QE2 Hospital.

The rest of the group are Lynn Curtis, Steph Johnson and Shirley Nicoll, who are all from elsewhere in Hertfordshire, Chris Atkins and Janice Harford from Yorkshire, and Canadian woman Maria Jacot.

This is not the first time the women have set out to raise funds for those less fortunate.

Six years ago, they trekked for four days to Machu Picchu, Peru, where they raised almost �4,000 for an underdeveloped school Peruvian school.

Other fundraising exploits have taken tem to Poland and Chile.

The group are set to leave for Nepal on March 12.

Before they go, they are organising events to appeal for sponsorship and support.

They are pictured at the latest event, an Abba night at the Robin Hood and Little John in Rabley Heath, near Codicote.

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