Specialist Frailty Physiotherapist, Bethan Davies, and her partner Mikie are setting off on a huge adventure in a few weeks. They have challenged themselves to climb Mount Kilimanjaro to raise money for Alzheimer’s Society and Overgate Hospice.

The couple are turning 30 this year and decided to celebrate by doing something momentous. Bethan grew up in North Wales and is very familiar with adventuring outdoors. Climbing the highest free-standing mountain in the world has been top of her bucket list for 15 years, ever since she watched Cheryl Cole and Gary Barlow do it for Comic Relief.

When they’re on their adventure, Bethan is looking forward to waking up from her tent in the morning, above the clouds, and watching the sunrise. They’re planning on taking the Northern Circuit route as it’s better for acclimatisation, which reduces the risk of altitude sickness.

Bethan said: “We have both climbed the highest three peaks in the UK and enjoy hiking in Snowdonia and the Lake District regularly but we've never done anything quite as challenging as this. I personally have hiked in Nepal - up to 3,210 metres - but Kilimanjaro is quite a bit more at 5,895 metres!

“We decided to choose two charities close to our hearts. I have close family friends affected by Alzheimer's and working within the Frailty Team supporting patients with Alzheimer's, means it was an obvious choice for me to raise funds for the Alzheimer's Society.

“Alongside this, Overgate Hospice are a wonderful local charity who cared for Mikie's late grandad and again they are a charity with services utilised by the Frailty Team regularly. We have decided to split all funds raised 50/50 between the two charities.”

Bethan’s JustGiving page can be found here: Bethan Davies & Mikie Gaughan are fundraising for Alzheimer's Society and Overgate Hospice | Give as you Live Donate