A LEIGH Sinton woman is to tackle one of the world's highest mountains, before working with deprived children in Uganda.

Emilie Larter, aged 22, will attempt an eight day climb to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro, starting on July 5, in a bid to raise money for Whisper, a charity which runs a children's orphanage and a school in Uganda.

Afterwards, she will work for two months as a volunteer with Whisper.

Miss Larter, who has been training for the mountain ordeal on the Malvern Hills said: "Many children Whisper find are so malnourished, they are fighting for their lives. They are in desperate need of donations."

As well as collecting donations and sponsorship from family and friends, she has also organised a fund-raising pub quiz at the Red Lion, St Ann's Road, Great Malvern for Wednesday, June 25, at 8pm.

Miss Larter is funding the cost of the gruelling climb herself, and proceeds will be for the charity.

Her friend, Olivia Lowe said of Kilimanjaro ordeal: "This is a massive challenge for anyone, let alone someone who hated sports at school! "

Many people who tackle Kilimanjaro suffer from altitude sickness.

The mountain, which consists of three volcanic cones, is the highest on the African continent and, because it is not part of a range, it is the highest free-standing mountain in the world, at 5,895m.

It has an icy summit that was not conquered, at least by European climbers, until 1889.

Snow and ice were more common on its peaks and slopes a hundred years ago, and later, - giving rise to the title of the well-known Ernest Hemingway short story, "The Snows of Kilimanjaro".

The world's highest mountain is Everest, at 8,848m, and part of the Himalayas.