A 71-YEAR-old woman suffering with multiple sclerosis (MS) will attempt to ascent a South Lakeland fell using a special all-terrain wheelchair tomorrow (Friday).
Jean Crosbie, who lives in Hawkshead, has been using a wheelchair for more than 20 years.
But she will be utilising an electric wheelchair to make her way up the rocky terrain of Latterbarrow to raise money for new charity, Freedom Wizard.
The charity arranges experience days, events and challenges to enable access to forests, moorland and fells for wheelchair users throughout the UK.
"I am a bit anxious," Jean said. "Allie [charity founder] did a recce and had a look at it and she said it's going to be quite difficult but not impossible."
Jean worked for the Cumbria Wildlife Trust and then later as a self-employed wildlife walks guide.
"I could slow down gradually and work when I was able to and wanted to," she said, explaining how she was able to reduce her workload as her condition worsened.
She now helps to manage Hawkshead Esthwaite Primary School's school grounds and volunteers to help Hawkshead Parish Church's eco-congregation.
Jean is yet to have a practise run in the chair she will be using tomorrow but she thinks it will be quite different to the 'sturdy and normal' chair that she uses in her day-to-day life.
And her friends, she said, think she is a 'bit wacky' for attempting to head up the hill.
Despite her apprehension, Jean said that being able to get outdoors is 'absolutely vital' for herself and other wheelchair users.
"It makes me feel happy," she said. "It's just so lovely. Wild spaces are so important for our survival in this new age."
Jean also noted that she thought getting close to nature made us appreciate it more and so more likely to be environmentally minded.
"It's absolutely to the future of the planet that we protect our environment. We are destroying it too much at the moment.
"I think the more people can come close to nature, the more they will care about it and protect it."
Money raised will go towards Freedom Wizard. There is a sponsorship form to sign on Hawkshead Post Office notice board or contribute via http://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/all-terrain-electric-wheelchair-fund
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