Ref. 29649-23OFFICE worker Samantha Farmer left her computer screen to hit the slopes and raised £2,000 for charity.

Samantha, 33, who works for Zurich Financial Services as a software coach, completed the Engadin ski marathon in Switzerland earlier this month to support Wellchild, a charity which helps underprivileged children.

She finished the 26-mile cross-country course in St Moritz in six hours 56 minutes.

Samantha, of Manchester Road, said: "I aimed to do it in under seven hours, so was really pleased. It was an amazing experience."

She joined five other Zurich employees from across the country to take part in the annual event, which dates back to the 1940s.

Samantha responded to an appeal for more entrants last September. But first she had to raise £1,000 for the five-day trip. Giving out tubes of Smarties to friends and asking them to return them full of coins was just one of her fundraising tactics.

"The response was brilliant. A close friend gave up alcohol for a month and managed to raise £600 in sponsorship. Everyone rallied to the cause," she said.

To prepare for the gruelling event, she trained at the gym, using cross trainer machines, which simulate the action of skiing.

Some 13,000 took part in the event, which began on March 11 with a two-day training programme.

"I have only done downhill skiing before, so this was totally different. After 25km my legs were killing me, but I was determined to carry on," she added.

Her spirits were lifted by support from hundreds of locals who lined the route.

She said: "They kept cheering and handing out energy boosters, like bananas, apricots and glucose tablets. A lovely man from Germany was shouting at me to keep going and kissed me at the top of a hill."

Despite her inexperience, Samantha managed to ski down Mattress Mountain unscathed. The name originates from the mattresses which are strapped to trees on the incline to cushion skiers when they crash into them.

"I had a few wipeouts, but nothing serious. There was a tremendous buzz the whole way through."

Some competitors wore fancy dress, posing as nuns, Father Christmas and Scotsmen in kilts. The winner was out of her sight, passing the finish line in 90 minutes.

Apart from aching limbs, she returned home in perfect health ready to collect her sponsorship money. The £2,000 will be split between Wellchild and the Zurich Foundation charity fund, which this year has chosen to support disadvantaged children.

Undeterred by sore muscles, Samantha hopes to repeat the experience.

She said: "I loved it. I would do it again like a shot."

Victoria Tagg