TOUGH mountain trekking, white water rafting and a jungle safari await a team of five adventurers from Okehampton who are raising funds for the town's new hospital in April.
Led by Okehampton community nurse Meri Cox, 62, the team will set off for Nepal for a 16-day challenge of a lifetime on April 4.
All the ladies are over 50 and only Meri has experience of the rough and demanding terrain of the Nepalese mountain ranges, having completed a charity trek almost two years ago raising £5,124 for the Teenage Cancer Trust.
This time the trip has not been organised through a charity, but Meri has hand-picked it so the team can get a real flavour of the beauty and diversity of Nepal. Each member is paying their own expenses of £2,000 with all the money raised going to the hospital appeal.
'The trip will be a wonderful experience and admittedly it will not all be hard work but it is not for the faint-hearted,' she said. 'It will be tough, which is why we are doing our training on Dartmoor — there is no better place.'
The team members — Pam Froud, Frieda Evans (secretary at Okehampton Medical Centre), Maggie Church (community nurse), Christine Coles (administration secretary at the Castle Hospital), Jane Church and Angela Symes and Meri — will be tackling the mountains of the Annapurna range, trekking up to 14,000 feet and sleeping in mess tents provided by the tour company.
After the mountain trek the ladies will spend two days white water rafting before entering the Chitwan Jungle where they will go 'on safari' with game drives and rides on elephants.
The team are hoping to raise as much money as possible for the hospital appeal which now stands around the £200,000 mark and are holding all sorts of events to boost the fund.
'If anybody wants to support us by holding a coffee morning or some other fundraising effort we would be most grateful,' she said.
'I am also doing my "Girl Friday" tasks and will be available for hire for babysitting, gardening, decorating or whatever the task may be.'
Meri said the challenge was nerve-racking for all the team, one of whom was in her 70s, but they were really committed.
'We went on an eight-mile walk last week and everybody coped admirably,' she said. 'I think we are all looking forward to it.'
Ideally, Meri would like one more team member to make an even number so no-one has to be in a tent on their own.
If you have a fundraising idea, want to give a donation or join the trip contact Meri on 01837 52887.
Sponsorship forms are available from the Castle Hospital or Okehampton Medical Centre.