A GROUP of Evesham fundraisers are scaling the heights of Kilimanjaro for local charity New Hope.

Lauran Bailey, 25, who previously worked as a support worker at New Hope for two years, will be joined by her brother Joe Bailey, cousin Zach Bailey, partner Ben Haywood and friend Oscar George in flying out on Saturday, July 23 before beginning the climb on Monday, July 25.

So far they have raised more than £5,000 for New Hope by hosting a tag rugby tournament and a curry and quiz night.

New Hope is a charity based in Worcester, which provides respite care for children with disabilities and severe learning difficulties during weekends and the school holidays.

Miss Bailey, a teacher, said: "The charity means an awful lot to me and I want to show that I have not forgotten about them.

"Jean (Wilson) set it up on her own and they do a really great job, it's a very worthy cause.

"I climbed the Himalayas about eight years ago and wanted to do Kilimanjaro next, it's a really good reason to do it.

"Our trip is completely self-funded so all donations will go to the charity."

Standing at 5,895 metres above sea level, or half the height that a jumbo jet flies at, it will take six days for the group to reach the summit.

They hope to reach the top on Monday, August 1 and have been busy training over the past 18 months, climbing the three tallest peaks in Britain as well as scaling local landmarks from Bredon Hill to the Malverns.

To donate visit justgiving.com/fundraising/teamnewhope.