A Bosherston woman is gearing up for one of the toughest challenges of her life.

Julie Freeman is off to Katmandu on September 23 and will be trekking to Everest base camp.

She has been training hard for the past three months each night in the gym at Lamphey Court and on the weekends has been walking the hills of the Brecon Beacons and around the coast of Pembrokeshire.

Fifty-one-year-old Julie has lived and worked in Pembrokeshire for over 15 years. She works for Careers Wales and has for many years wanted to walk in the mountains of Nepal and the Himalayas.

She is raising money for the local branch of the Parkinson's disease society, a charity she holds close to her heart as a close family member has this condition.

Anyone who would like to make a donation can do so via http://www.virginmoneygiving.com/JulieFreeman">www.virginmoneygiving.com/JulieFreeman or alternatively by cheque to Parkinson's disease Pembroke branch, HOPE Centre, Honeyborough Business Park, Neyland.

You can donate as little or as much as you like - all donations will be gratefully appreciated, no matter how small.

You can also follow Julie's progress on Facebook and she would like to spread the word by asking people who support her cause to consider posting a link on their own Facebook page.

Julie is very excited by the challenge ahead of her, but also a little apprehensive as she is not a keen flyer and has to land at Lukla airport which is renowned for being one of the most dangerous runways to land on as it is precariously perched on the side of a mountain.

Julie is committed to overcoming her fears and completing the challenge ahead which will include freezing conditions, altitude sickness and walking over 5,500 metres up the mountain to reach base camp.