A ROMSEY trio are hoping to conquer Africa’s highest mountain this week.

Peter Mainprice and his son Paul, and daughter Kate, begin climbing the 5,895m high Mount Kilimanjaro today and hope to reach the summit on Thursday.

Kate is raising cash for the World Land Trust and her dad, who manages a medical conference business, is doing the climb to help the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance charity.

Bristol University student Kate said it was going to be a “huge challenge” but it will be worthwhile spending the New Year holiday raising money for a charity that she’s passionate about.

“The World Land Trust is an international conservation charity, which protects the world’s most biographically important and threatened habitats.

“I feel passionately about protecting our planet’s most vulnerable areas.

“Saving the most threatened species is paramount, once they are gone they are gone from the planet forever,” said 18- year-old Kate. “I’ve never climbed a mountain other than Snowdon before,” added Kate, pointing out that it was her father’s idea to tackle Mount Kilimanjaro.

“I thought it was too good an opportunity to miss and would be amazing way to raise money for this cause.

“Climbing a mountain is a real test of endurance, you are able to see some beautiful scenery and meet new people all of which I am excited about,” said Kate who has been jogging around Bristol to get fit for the challenge.

Kate added: “Most of my jogging routes include Clifton Suspension Bridge which is gorgeous and I have walked from Bath to Bristol with my dad as part of training.”

Her 25-year-old brother Paul lives in Leeds and he will be joining his sister and dad on the climb but has not revealed what he is raising money for.

Anyone who would like to sponsor Kate is asked to log on to justgiving.com/kate-mainprice for more details.