SHE IS scared of heights and not too good with hot temperatures, but Jo Barrett from Hatherleigh is overcoming her fears to take part in a charity trek to Kenya in August.

The thrill of the challenge and the opportunity to raise money for one of her favourite charities, Barnardo's, was irresistible for Jo, who has been training hard on Dartmoor and already has £1,800 towards the £2,500 she needs to join Trek Africa.

The 55-year-old freelance hairdresser first got the idea after a friend returned from a cycle ride to Jordan and told her what an amazing experience it was and how many interesting people she met.

'That really sowed the seed and I was hoping to trek in Ecuador in 2001 but decided against as it seemed inappropriate to fundraise at such a dreadful time,' she said.

Jo, who is famously known for shaving off Noel Edmonds' trademark beard in Hatherleigh to raise money for people caught up in the foot and mouth crisis last year, and her fellow walkers will be trekking for eight days along the Rift Valley, covering a distance of more than 120 kilometres and at an altitude of over 2,000 metres.

'I don't like heights — the coastal path at Bude is bad news for me — so scaling two inactive volcanos will be another challenge to overcome,' she said.

'The good thing is I will be walking with lots of other people so we will probably all be supporting each other.'

A ploughman's lunch, safari supper, coach trip to Bath and a quiz have already raised a large amount of funds and the next fundraiser is an antiques evening on May 24.

A big supporter of the South West Children's Hospice and many other children's charities, the trekker is highly excited about seeing Africa for the first time: 'Walking through herds of giraffes, gazelles and other wild animals is going to be incredible but there is no doubt it is also going to be hard,' she added.

'I have had such support in Hatherleigh which always comes up trumps time and time again to help good causes.'

Barnardo's is the largest UK children's charity and aims to give the most disadvantaged youngsters the chance of a better childhood and happier future.

Anyone who wants to help Jo reach her target of £2,500 can phone her on 01837 810535.