BOLTON Wanderers star David Wheater’s wife Laura and former Whites goalkeeper Andy Lonergan’s wife Jennifer will be joining Sheffield United striker Billy Sharp’s partner to climb Mount Kilimanjaro this summer to raise funds for two causes close to their hearts.

The trio, along with five others, will be scaling the highest mountain in Africa over five days from August 15 in a bid to raise £250,000 for the Mind and The Gem Appeal charities.

Billy and Jade Sharp lost their two-day-old son Luey to a condition called gastroschisis in 2011.

Jade said: “While Billy was able to get back to normality pretty quickly, I found myself alone daily with aching arms and a nursery missing a baby.

“Quite soon after I felt myself slipping into a pretty dark place — the joy of life had gone and the future for me looked pretty empty.”

Jade said that mental health charity Mind provided crucial support and helped her get ‘back on track’ mentally.

Mind is also important to Jennifer Lonergan, whose husband played for Wanderers until 2015, as she lost her brother to suicide in August 2013.

She said: “This has had such a devastating impact on all of our family, and so we are extremely passionate about trying to raise awareness and funds to help people who are struggling with any form of mental health issues. Sadly it’s not uncommon and the statistics are frightening.”

Meanwhile, The Gem Appeal was set up in 1994 by a mother whose two sons were dying from a disorder which needed vital research.

The charity raises money for the Willink Unit at the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital where Jennifer and Andy’s 11-year-old daughter Millie is treated for a rare metabolic condition called Phenylketonuria (PKU).

Jennifer said: “The research carried out and the improving knowledge for treatment of serious childhood disorders is helping to save lives.

“We want to give something back and hope that the money raised by our challenge will help raise funds to allow the charity to purchase a new machine which will help to save little lives.”

Laura Wheater, whose husband David has played for Wanderers since 2011, turns 30 this year and wanted to mark the occasion with something extra special.

She said: “I know how much The Gem Appeal and Mind means to our lovely friends Jen and her husband Andrew, and it’s important to me that I support them as much as I can.”

For more information on the challenge, visit gofundme.com/team-250-kilimanjaro.