Gill Heard is gathering kit for her charity walk in Ethiopia's Simien Mountains (16896/3/DC)GAZETTE & HERALD: DYSON worker Gill Heard is to take part in a trip of a lifetime when she climbs The Simien Mountains in Ethiopia to raise money for the children's cancer charity, CLIC.

Mrs Heard, 34, who lives with her husband John in Webbington Road, Chippenham, is set to fly out to Ethiopia in October.

The challenge, which will include high altitude treks, wading through rivers and visiting local communities, will push Mrs Heard to her limits. But she said: "I found the opportunity impossible to pass over after all the heartrending things I read about the children with cancer and leukaemia and then discovered what I could do to help.

"I'm not nervous at all and really looking forward to it, I'm dead excited."

She first got involved with CLIC through her work at Dyson, the Malmesbury-based vacuum cleaner manufacturer where she helps look after a team that does in store demonstrations.

The Dyson Foundation pledged to raise £1,000,000 for CLIC by the end of 2005. Mrs Heard stressed that any donation big or small would make all the difference as Dyson has agreed to match every penny she raises.

When asked what she was most looking forward to about the trip, Mrs Heard said: "I'm really looking forward to seeing all the beautiful scenery and visiting the Ethiopian communities.

"What is also great is that as well as raising money for CLIC we will be bringing in money to the local communities through all the tourism that the trek will generate. "

For Mrs Heard, who used to work in the services, preparation has already begun for the trip.

"I have been doing lots of training at the gym and have been attending body pump and body combat classes at the Olympiad," she said.

"Any spare moments I have I go out trekking with my husband John who has been pushing me along every step of the way."

As well as raising as much money as possible for CLIC, Mrs Heard also has her own personal goal of reaching the summit of Ras Dashen at an altitude of 4,620m. She said: "From the summit there are inspiring views stretching in each and every direction that will take your breath away, if the altitude hasn't already."

You can see Mrs Heard out car booting at the weekend selling T-shirts, toys and anything that has been donated to raise money.

She is also looking for sponsorship in the form of kit that is needed for the trek from a pair of socks to T-shirts, a rucksack, sleeping bag and walking boots plus many more items.

"The money I raise throughout the year will be of vital importance to CLIC and really will help to make a difference to the lives of children with cancer or leukaemia and their families," said Mrs Heard. "CLIC relies entirely on public donations to maintain these vital services."

Just £140 will accommodate a family in a CLIC home for a week and £150 will pay for a teenager with cancer to take part in an activity weekend.

Anyone who would like to help can make a donation to gillheard@justgiving.co.uk or gillheard@dyson.com