SHE is terrified of heights – but that hasn’t stopped a Hampshire mum from taking on one of the most dangerous mountain climbs in the world.

Now Shadi Ganjavian-Connor has spoken of her terrifying ascent of one of the world’s most dangerous mountains and how the thought of helping sick children was the only thing that got her to the summit.

Shadi, from Chandlers Ford, climbed the 14,692ft Matterhorn and raised more than £20,000 for the Murray Parish Trust, which is bidding to raise £2m for a dedicated children’s A&E department at Southampton General Hospital.

Standing at just 5ft 2in tall, the mum-of-two battled her extreme fear of heights to scale the Swiss peak, which is widely acknowledged as one of the most difficult ascents in the world with only one in five climbers making it the summit.

Shadi proudly flew the Murray Parish Trust flag from the summit of the Matterhorn – as well as enjoying a phone call with her husband Tim Connor.

Describing the ascent, the 42-year-old said: “There’s only way up and one way down.

“It was pitch black and all you had was your headtorch to be able to see. I was quite nervous and quite breathless because of the lack of oxygen.

“You have to try and find somewhere to put your hands and feet in the darkness, so I felt a huge amount of pressure.

“The whole time on that journey the only thing that got me to the summit were all the words of encouragement that people had said to me and the thought of the hospital. I was having these full-on conversations with myself saying ‘Why am I doing this?’

“I was just thinking ‘this is for the kids, it’s for the hospital’.

“If I did not have that purpose, there’s a huge probability I would have turned back.”

The Murray Parish Trust was

set up by Hampshire celebrity couple James Murray and Sarah Parish, who have raised thousands of pounds for Southampton General since their late daughter Ella-Jayne was treated there in 2009.

Working with Southampton Hospital Charity, they are aiming to raise £2m, which will be match-funded by the government. A further £800,000 is to be allocated by University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust to build the £4.8m unit.

Shadi heard about the Murray Parish Trust through friends and, after researching the project, was compelled to help.

Shadi will be sharing her expedition, while hoping to inspire others to step out of their comfort zone, in a talk “Attitude at Altitude” at Thornden Hall, Winchester Road, Eastleigh at 7pm on Wednesday October 4. She will also be revealing her next extraordinary endeavour.

To support Shadi visit: mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/shadivthematterhorn