By Nikki Jarvis

nikki.jarvis@essnmedia.co.uk

A quartet of determined friends have teamed up to take on an uphill battle to raise money for a cancer charity.

The fundraisers, who work together at Mondial Assistance, on George Street, Croydon, will be climbing England, Scotland and Wales' highest mountains - all within 36 hours and without stopping to sleep.

They hope to bring in £4,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support by tackling Scafell Pike, Ben Nevis and Snowdon this May.

And through car washes, raffles and general bucket-shaking Jo Paul, 35, Louise Kelly, 42, Gavin Clarke, 30, and Mark Ennis, 27, have already raised half their target total.

Jo said: "We chose the charity because everyone has been affected by cancer in some way.

"I have been training for the walking but nothing can prepare you for staying up all that time – I think if we practiced that it would put me off forever."

The group has chosen to support Macmillan as it is a charity dear to their hearts.

Louise said: "Nurses from Macmillan made it possible for my grandad to be at home when he was dying form cancer rather than in a hospice.

"They were like angels and this is an opportunity to say thank you and give something back.

"This challenge has brought the four of us much closer and even though I am scared stiff of the challenge we will get each other up those mountains by hook or by crook."

*To sponsor the friends visit their website at http://3peaksnosleeps.yolasite.com/