Families have the chance to have caricatures of themselves created while supporting Meningitis UK.

Student illustrator Sian Stinchcombe, 20, of Lea, is fundraising for her chosen charity in preparation for a challenge to climb nearly 20,000ft up Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, over six days in August.

Cake sales, homemade Christmas cards and now the offer to illustrate local families are just some of the plans Ms Stinchcombe has been working on to help reach her £3,000 target.

So far she has raised £300 and has decided to donate money given to her at Christmas to help fund the charity trek.

“I’ve always drawn characters and the people I babysit for really wanted one after they saw one I drew for work at Westonbirt Arboretum,” said the Plymouth University student.

“It’s quite a personal picture and they are on-off drawings.

“I really like them; I think it’s cute and quirky.

“It takes me about 20 minutes to do; it doesn’t take me long if I am working from a picture.

“I started training on Monday and that means going for long walks and getting myself fit.”

In December Ms Stinchcombe, who hopes to go on to be a book illustrator, printed 200 Christmas cards depicting one of her images and sold them all within a week.

The former Malmesbury School student will be leaving for Africa in just over 200 days alongside 40 other students from around the UK.

Anyone who is interested in having a drawing done can contact Ms Stinchcombe on sian.stinchcombe@yahoo.co. uk People will need to provide a photo of their family and the height of each member, plus a minimum donation of £20, which will go towards Ms Stinchcombe’s fundraising. Visit her Virgin Money page at http://tinyurl.com/pqnvfhr