Helen sets out to help heroes (From This Is Cheshire)

Helen sets out to help heroes

11:07am Thursday 11th March 2010

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A 21-YEAR-OLD Penketh woman is gearing up for an incredible challenge to support service men and women after her soldier brother returned safely from Afghanistan.

Helen Grant, of Manston Road, is taking on the seven-day trek up Mount Kilimanjaro in September with a group of complete strangers to raise money for the Help for Heroes charity.

Helen’s brother Chris, aged 25, was posted to Afghanistan and worked in signals at Camp Bastion before returning home in August last year.

Helen said: “Thankfully he was not physically affected but I know that many of his colleagues were not so lucky.

“It could easily have been my brother who had lost a limb or even his life and so I decided I couldn’t just sit back and do nothing.”

The United Utilities microbiologist has been juggling training for the mammoth task with studying at St Helens College for a foundation degree in microbiology, leaving her little time to prepare for the hike up the highest mountain in Africa.

Helen added: “I’ve been watching clips on the internet of the Comic Relief Mount Kilimanjaro climb last year.

“Chris Moyles said he would never do it again even if they paid him which didn’t fill me with confidence!

“But it’s been really useful to see all the different stages and has given me a good idea of what to expect.”

Helen’s friends and colleagues have promised to help all they can, even offering to climb Mount Snowdon with her later in the year.

She added: “Everyone has been really supportive.

“My aim is to raise as much money and awareness of this fantastic organisation as I possibly can which has already started in work, with some of the boys volunteering for a sponsored leg wax.”

Helen has written to a number of Warrington businesses looking for donations or prizes that can be raffled.

A minimum of £3,400 is needed to complete the challenge.

To help Helen visit justgiving.com/Helen-Grant2010.

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