CUMBRIA Tourism’s managing director is preparing to swap Lakeland fells for Cambodian mountains for a trek in aid of a palliative care hospice.

In November, Gill Haigh will set out on a nine-day adventure in aid of St John’s Hospice.

The Angkor Wat trek is coordinated by St John’s Hospice and participants will walk for around seven to eight hours each day between November 5 and November 13.

“I’ve seen first-hand through friends that we’ve lost just how important hospice care at home and in the hospice itself is, and not just for those who are needing the care directly but also for their families,” said Ms Haigh.

“It’s really incredible what hospices and their wonderful staff and volunteers do for us and our loved ones.”

Joining a team of around 20 walkers Ms Haigh will traverse rice paddies, farmland and take in Cambodia’s sacred mountain, Kulen Mountain.

“It’s going to be really humid; I know that will be challenging for me,” said Ms Haigh.

“Physically I think it’s going to be really demanding so I’ve got a lot of training ahead of me.

“The main thing I’m looking forward to is being able to raise as much money as I can for the hospice, and I think being able to test yourself-I’ve never done anything like this- this is completely out of my comfort zone.”

Ms Haigh will start training for the trek next weekend with a climb up Arnside Knott and is planning on taking on the three peaks and many of the Wainwrights.

And she has already begun meeting some of her fellow adventurers.

“A few of us have already started to plan some training walks,” she said.

“People who we didn’t know but met through the hospice group.

“So we’ll get to know some of the people we’re working with before we set off.”

Ms Haigh is hoping to raise £10,000 and has teamed up with Golf Lake District to organise a fundraising golf day at Silverdale Golf Club on May 20.

The managing director is self-funding herself, meaning she is paying for her own flights, food and accommodation, with all donated money going directly to St John’s Hospice.

To donate visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/gill-white3