Taking on Great Wall in memory of mother

Sarah Jarvis is trekking along the Great Wall of China to mark the 25th anniversary of her mother's death.

Rosina Lewis, who lived in Bognor, died from cancer at the age of 36.

Mother of one Sarah said: 'My mother died at the same age as I am now, so that is quite poignant.

'Taking part in an event for charity was something I wanted to do.

'It's a challenge. After everything my mum went through, six days of hardship is nothing in comparision to the years of ill-health she had.

'I decided to do something positive to mark the anniversary of her death rather than just get upset by it.

'I also wanted it to be something my mother would be proud of.'

'I've not done anything like this trek before. There will be a real sense of achievement at the end of it as well as raising money.'

Accountancy firm payroll manager Sarah, of Sandringham Way, has joined a friend, Sarah Grant, for the long-distance walk.

It will take place next October in aid of Cancer Research UK.

Their starting point will be Jinshanling. They will spend seven hours each day for the next six days conquering a section of the wall usually closed to tourists before they finish at Mutianyu.

Parts of the wall they will be visiting have steep inclines. One place is only accessible on a zip wire.

Essex Road resident Sarah Grant is taking part in memory of one of her best friends, North Bersted man Chris Dwyer (36), who died of brain cancer last year.

She took on the Andes two years ago in aid of the Mind charity.

She raised 6,000 to make her problems with altitude sickness and the bleak terrain worthwhile.

She said preparations for the Great Wall would feature lots of practice treks and fundraising to help raise at least 1,000 each.

A mother of two, the interior design company employee said: 'Walking through Peru was the hardest thing I have ever done.'

But she added that the 150,000 raised by the group of which she was a member showed the fundraising power of such ventures.

The two Sarahs have arranged a series of quiz and curry nights at Bognor Squash Club in Hawthorn Road to help raise money for their trek.

The first of the occasions was won by Stacey Gardner, Stephen Horncastle, Alex Holder and her partner in a tense finish with their keen rivals, the Booker team.

The winners of each night receive an engraved shield, courtesy of Goldcrest Guarding Security Services' boss Lee Cooksey.

The next quiz will take place on February 1, 2008.

Further details can be obtained by e-mail from [email protected] or the www.justgiving.co.uk/chinatrek08 website.