Dealing with the hordes of parking fine appeals she receives daily is often an uphill struggle for Preston City Council appeals officer, Donna Gadsby, but her next role leaves her with a mountain to climb.

Donna, of Dovedale Close, Ingol, is to scale the heights of Mount Everest, in a bid to raise £3,500 for disability charity Scope.

Despite having little previous mountaineering experience Donna said she cannot wait for the challenge ahead.

"It won't be easy but I've been training hard and when I've done it will be amazing."

As if that is not scary enough Donna aims to raise funds for Scope before then by spending a night in the haunted Lancaster Grand Theatre on August 13 along with a parapsychologist Jason Karl.

She said: "We'll be recording the events as they happen and you never know what we might experience."

The 33-year-old will fly to the Himalaya next February joining a group of 40 mountaineers from across the world in the Khumba region of Nepal before reaching the summit Kala Pattar for the classic view of Everest (below) itself.

Donna revealed her reasons for taking on such a daunting task.

"Susan, a close friend of mine has a daughter Kelly who has cerebral palsy and requires 24 hour care seven days a week, and I know the pressures and difficulties the family faced," she said.

"I've seen first hand just how invaluable Scope were with practical assistance, support and advice. They even supplied a community worker to help the family."

With the long term support of Scope, Kelly now 24, managed to complete school and now attends a day centre for adults in Coventry.

Since taking the decision to climb the world's highest mountain Donna has adhered to a strict training regime at Fulwood Leisure Centre, Preston, and has the full support of council colleagues.

Anyone interested in helping Donna can contact her on 07814 709712 or donate securely at her own fundrasing website at www.justgiving.com/donnag